Chapter 61: "Wilderness Survival" - Zhao Yi's Discovery

A group of five slowly made their way through the intricate forest.

Their pace was not fast, always on guard against potential poisonous creatures.

Just moments ago, as they crossed a shallow stream half a meter wide, Ying Xiangying almost got bitten on the neck by a large spider the size of a palm hanging from a nearby tree!

The spider was vividly colored, with a plump abdomen, and its venomous fangs glinted ominously in the sunset, making one's skin crawl.

Fortunately, Ed was quick to react, catching the spider mid-air with his bare hands and swallowing it whole.

"Be extremely careful, the Rubaco Mountains are the most dangerous known forbidden zone, countless adventurers have perished in this jungle, and who knows how many unrecorded poisonous insects exist here."

Ed enthusiastically explained to the group while leading them to find shelter in the forest.

"It's going to get dark soon, we need to quickly find a cave, clear a safe area, and start a fire, otherwise, tonight will be hard to endure."

Ding Longfei gruffly asked, "Ed, I see the trees around here are tall, with vines growing on some of them. Why don't we just clear the poisonous creatures from a tree and sleep on it tonight?"

Ed shook his head and patiently explained, "Mr. Ding, under normal circumstances, your method would work, but not now."

He pointed to the distant clouds slowly gathering in the sky and said, "Do you see that?"

"Judging by the weather and humidity, it's likely to rain tonight, and there will be heavy rain in the coming days."

"If it were just to block the cold wind from the north, the dense leaves might suffice, and everyone could weave a large bed with vines to keep warm, barely making it through the night. But... if it rains heavily, we're doomed!"

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Ed's expression was serious, not joking at all.

"The rain in these mountains won't freeze at extremely low temperatures. The temperature at night will drop to below zero, and if we get soaked in such temperatures... we'll quickly die from hypothermia!"

Everyone's strength was reduced by 50%, and while they might be stronger than ordinary people, they weren't invincible.

With such physical conditions, it's impossible to survive long in sub-zero liquid immersion!

Zhao Yi raised his eyebrows, his eyes growing more excited.

...

Soon, under Ed's guidance, the group found a small cave halfway up the mountain.

It was relatively spacious inside, and poisonous insects seemed to dislike the overly flat ground, with no sight of deadly snakes.

The cave interior was clean, as if someone had tidied it up.

Ed, delighted, led the group in filming while preparing to start a fire.

"It's not raining yet, let's quickly find dry wood and start a fire. Once we have a fire, not only can we sleep well tonight, but we can also have cooked food tomorrow!"

The group immediately split into pairs to search for dry wood nearby, while Ed carefully guided the players from a distance and recorded a video.

While collecting dry wood, Zhao Yi intentionally looked for traces left by bears and soon identified a direction, finding fresh droppings ahead.

He carefully noted these clues before returning to the cave with the dry wood.

Dusk fell.

The fire was lit, its warmth dispelling the chill.

The orange glow illuminated the group gathered around the fire, creating an unexpectedly cozy atmosphere.

Boom!

A muffled thunder sounded, and the patter of rain was heard outside the cave.

Humidity and cold seeped into the cave, causing the group to shiver involuntarily.

Their clothing varied.

For instance, Zhao Yi's clothes were thicker, so he felt warmer.

Wei Yun, on the other hand, wore very little, with two bottles of nutritional drinks almost popping open at her chest, treating the group as if they were family. Her ultra-thin stockings provided no warmth.

She shivered beside the fire.

The other two had thicker clothes, but not as sturdy as Zhao Yi's.

The fire crackled, and Ed suddenly lay on a rock, panting and sweating.

"Ed, what's wrong?" Zhao Yi asked with a frown.

Ed turned his head, grinning to reveal his white teeth.

"Nothing... maybe that spider from earlier had a bit of venom. I'll be fine after some sleep."

Zhao Yi stepped forward to give Ed a quick check.

There was indeed no major issue, just some fever and dizziness.

But his expression was subtle.

Generally, spider and snake venom only works when it enters the bloodstream; ingesting it shouldn't be a big problem.

But it seemed the poisonous spiders and other insects in the Rubaco Mountains were not edible.

Even someone with Ed's extraordinary physique couldn't handle it; if they ate it, they'd probably be dead soon.

"Thank you for your concern... let's think about food and water tomorrow. The rainwater here contains special impurities, not corrosive, but undrinkable. For tomorrow's mission, everyone should rest well!"

Ed said, then turned over and went to sleep.

The group exchanged glances, and Ying Xiangying glanced at the sleeping Ed, whispering, "Did anyone notice anything?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Ying Xiangying wasn't sure if they genuinely didn't know or just didn't want to say, sighed helplessly, and went to sleep.

He deliberately chose the innermost spot, where it was colder due to being further from the fire, but if anything happened outside, he wouldn't be the first target.

About two hours later, Zhao Yi suddenly sat up, picked up a burning log, and quietly walked towards the cave entrance...

PS: I've been laying the groundwork for a long time, aiming for ten thousand words today, let's go!