Chapter 9, Survival on a Deserted Island (3)

However, unexpectedly, just two minutes later, that bare-bottomed fellow spoke up, "Hey buddy, this won't do. We are not far from the equator now, and the temperature at noon can reach thirty-five to thirty-six degrees. If this continues, we will soon become dehydrated."

Ed was patiently imparting survival skills in the wilderness, and to ensure that Zhang Heng could clearly hear each word, he deliberately slowed down his speech

However, the man named Ed evidently possesses good self-regulation abilities, as he quickly returned to an optimistic state after feeling sad for a moment. "Alright, according to our agreement, it is now time for me to fulfill my promise and teach you how to find a water source."

When Zhang Heng dragged that bare-bottomed fellow onto the beach, both of them were basically exhausted to the point of collapse

Zhang Heng let out a quiet sigh; if this were truly a game, it would be impossible for any ships to pass by within 40 days. However, Ed's words did improve his mood considerably. Most importantly, they made him realize that he was not alone at this moment. Zhang Heng was not someone who enjoyed complaining about fate.

What? Zhang Heng had not heard any movement behind him for a long time and thought the man had already fallen asleep

Hmm?

I do not wish to appear overly demanding, but if possible, please provide me with a green coconut. Coconuts like this one that have fallen to the ground are already old, and the milky juice inside could likely cause diarrhea if consumed. On an uninhabited island like this, that could be quite perilous

No problem. During this time, Zhang Heng took a moment to lie down, regaining some strength, which was just enough to meet the other party's needs

That guy, who was full of hot air, saw Zhang Heng preparing to smash a coconut, opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak

Therefore, the latter's English corresponds to the general Level 6, and there are no significant issues in daily communication; however, once it involves specialized vocabulary, further explanation from Ed is necessary

Rescuing the bare-bottomed man was already quite a challenge; even if he could swim to the two individuals further away, he would have no strength left to bring them back.

It seems that you possess a wealth of knowledge about wilderness survival

Ed suddenly spoke up, "Zhang, have I ever told you what is the most important thing in wilderness survival?"

During the process, Zhang Heng had several moments when he couldn't help but want to give up, but unexpectedly, this fellow maintained a good mindset and instead kept encouraging him.

While at sea, I roughly estimated that this island is about 12,000 hectares in size. I discovered some animal tracks near the bushes, which suggests that there may be streams on the island. Following the animal tracks could lead you to them. However, the bad news is that this also means there is likely to be predators on the island. Nightfall is approaching quickly, and venturing deep into the island without a torch is not a wise decision; you might get lost or encounter wild beasts

As a city dweller, this was Zhang Heng's first experience sleeping outdoors. Although he was aware that both his mind and body had reached their limits and were in urgent need of rest, he still found it difficult to close his eyes for a long time. Whether it was the smell of bird droppings in the air, the hard rocks behind him, or the unknown insects crawling over his arms in the darkness, each element tormented his nerves, leaving him restless

As an enlightening teacher, sometimes attitude is far more important than ability

Indeed, he soon heard the other party speak, "Friend, could you help me find some green coconuts? My throat is extremely dry, and afterwards, I will teach you how to find a water source"

It is approximately 10 square meters in size, filled with bird droppings, and the smell is quite unpleasant. However, the terrain is relatively high, so there is no need to worry about being swept away by the tide while sleeping at night. More importantly, it is situated in a sheltered position from the wind. The island is still quite cool in the early morning and evening, especially when the wind blows against the body, which will carry away more heat.

I spent some time in the military and once spent over two years trekking through the Amazon rainforest, so yes, in terms of survival in the wild, I believe I can consider myself an expert

However, this also made him curious about the identities of those two individuals later on

I will take you to a cool place right now. Zhang Heng took a couple of breaths, gathered some strength, and dragged the man to a rock wall, then removed his T-shirt to perform a simple bandage on the wound on his thigh

Zhang Heng did not even know how he swam back the last stretch of the journey. It was only after approaching the target man that he realized the other party had a spinal injury and his thigh was cut by the rocks, making it impossible for him to move. No wonder he could only drift along like a plastic water bottle.

... ...

Zhang Heng ultimately gritted his teeth and pulled this fellow ashore

However, Zhang Heng has no regrets; he is most aware of his own physical condition

As the sun set in the west, Zhang Heng took advantage of the last bit of light on the horizon to pick a few more coconuts, which he would have for dinner along with the ones he had gathered earlier. Subsequently, the two individuals in the cave exchanged good nights.

It is not an easy task to bring him back

Survival skills are undoubtedly very important, but what is even more crucial is to maintain an optimistic outlook. When you feel tormented, you can think of those joyful things and remind yourself that perhaps tomorrow a ship will pass by here to take me back to the civilized world. Ed's mindset remains as positive as ever

Zhang Heng knew he had made the right bet; indeed, in an excellent game, there would never be levels that completely put players in a hopeless situation. He understood that the man before him was his hope for survival on this deserted island

Even so, Zhang Heng would occasionally interrupt him to inquire about the meaning of a certain word. Although Zhang Heng has parents who work abroad, those two deities spend very little time at home and have not deliberately cultivated Zhang Heng's foreign language skills.

Afterwards, Zhang Heng truly felt exhausted, unable to even lift a stone. Fortunately, he found a few coconuts that had fallen to the ground a short distance away.

The two of them lay on the beach for a while, and Zhang Heng truly did not want to move even a little finger. If possible, he would have preferred to close his eyes and fall asleep right then and there

Moreover, the man in front of me, who has a significantly receding hairline, at least appears to be easy to get along with

However, the tone of the latter suddenly became somber, "It's a pity for those two fellows. There is no other land nearby except for this small island. If they couldn't make it here, they are likely in grave danger."

The man with a bare bottom, having drunk coconut juice, appeared to be in much better spirits. He extended a hand and said, "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Ed Wilson, a British national, former Captain of the British Army stationed in Afghanistan. You can call me Ed. Thank you very much for saving my life."

After all, in terms of difficulty, rescuing the bare-bottomed man is the easiest task to accomplish. According to the consistent approach of game designers, the more effort you invest, the more substantial the rewards you will receive

It was merely a matter of enduring for 40 days on a deserted island. With the guidance of a teacher, he believed he could accomplish this. Zhang Heng attempted to clear all negative emotions from his mind, but soon fatigue overwhelmed him, and he closed his eyes.

After twenty minutes of teaching and listening, Zhang Heng finally grasped how to find fresh water in the wild. Following Ed's advice, he temporarily used coconut juice as his main water source while also searching the nearby rock walls. Not only did he successfully find several small water pools, but he also discovered a natural cave.

Zhang Heng, a Chinese national, is currently in his second year of university, no need for formalities. Zhang Heng exchanged a friendly handshake with a former British Army captain stationed in Afghanistan

This time he smashed down fourteen coconuts in one go, giving five to the bare-bottomed man, eating three himself, and reserving the remaining six as stored food