Chapter 1: The Prepared Survivor

Gao Yang felt fortunate that he had not forgotten to pull up the life jacket at the last moment, and he was relieved that the life jacket was still intact. However, he was somewhat at a loss about what to do next

The flow of water indicates that he is in a river rather than a lake, which relieved Gao Yang considerably. He felt that if he rested for a moment and then floated downstream with the current while swimming diagonally towards the shore, with a little effort, he should be able to reach the bank.

The dilapidated airplane encountered life-threatening weather, and Gao Yang felt that his twenty-three years of life might come to an end here

Emerging to the surface of the water, after taking a long breath, Gao Yang immediately put on the life jacket. After pulling the cord on the life jacket and feeling it inflate rapidly, Gao Yang finally let out a sigh of relief

Gao Yang observed his surroundings and found himself in a typical savanna, where tall trees were scattered across the vast grassland. The sun was already close to the horizon, but at that moment, Gao Yang could not discern the direction, making it impossible for him to determine whether it was morning or afternoon based on the position of the sun

Gao Yang's first reaction was to unbuckle his seatbelt, but he could not open the clasp that secured it. Time passed second by second, and just as Gao Yang was about to run out of breath, he suddenly remembered that the tour guide beside him had a hunting knife hanging from his waist

No one expected that the airplane flying over land would ultimately crash into the water, resulting in not a single person on board putting on a life jacket

When the lights in the cabin suddenly went out, Gao Yang made an effort to curl himself into a ball, his hands clasped behind his head

In a state of helplessness, Gao Yang no longer attempted to swim to the shore, deciding instead to float on the surface of the water to rest for a while. It was only at this moment that Gao Yang realized he was being carried along by the swift current.

When Gao Yang's consciousness became slightly clearer, he realized that he was only about four or five meters away from the riverbank, which was quite gentle and easy to reach. However, the most crucial point was that Gao Yang's feet had already touched the soft mud at the riverbed.

The body was constantly thrown up and then pulled back to the seat by the seatbelt. Looking out of the window, all that could be seen was a continuous flash of lightning. The only sound that could be heard was the heavy rain beating against the aircraft's fuselage and the rumble of thunder. Moreover, the small plane being used was at least a twenty-year-old dilapidated contraption, which made Gao Yang feel regret for the first time about his decision to come to Africa.

The desire to survive gave Gao Yang an unknown strength, allowing him to struggle and crawl to the shore using both his hands and feet. After his upper body reached the shore, he rested for at least half an hour before finally getting completely out of the water.

Gao Yang turned his head, wanting to ask the guide sitting next to him if he knew where they were. However, he immediately dismissed this thought, as the guide was fervently making the sign of the cross in front of his chest and praying with all his might. Therefore, Gao Yang felt it was better not to disturb him.

Gao Yang strained his neck to take a look, and then he was horrified to discover that not far ahead, a vast expanse of mist had appeared

Originally, there were more items in Gao Yang's psk bag, but due to the need to board a commercial flight, Gao Yang had to remove items such as knives and lighters that were not allowed on the plane. However, fortunately, Gao Yang obtained a knife from the tour guide, acquiring one of the most essential tools for outdoor activities

Holding several essential survival items in his hands greatly boosted Gao Yang's confidence in his ability to survive. However, it seemed that fate was determined to work against him. Just as Gao Yang was dragging a bundle of firewood with a parachute cord towards the campsite he had chosen, he suddenly heard the sound of a gunshot.

As he swallowed the chocolate in small bites, Gao Yang was so moved that he could only cry

At this moment, the surface of the water is still beset by a violent storm; although it is daytime, it is as dark as night. Coupled with the splashes of water stirred up by the torrential rain, it is impossible to discern where the shore lies, leaving Gao Yang uncertain of where to swim to find land.

Next, all Gao Yang could do was take a short rest and then try to approach the shore, but he did not rest for long before he heard a foreboding rumble.

Two large blocks of chocolate, a lighter, a compass, a magnifying glass, a ten-meter long parachute cord, five fish hooks and ten meters of fishing line, a survival whistle, four condoms, and a medical kit. This is what happened in the Gao Yang PSK.

Gao Yang felt a bit flustered and began to swim vigorously in a random direction. However, he soon realized that with every kick, his right knee throbbed with pain, and even with the buoyancy provided by the life jacket, he lacked the strength to continue swimming

The airplane has already broken into two sections, with the裂口 located above the elevated head

The small plane, which could only accommodate twenty people, was now in complete chaos, with everyone descending into madness. The two staff members from the hunting company, who had initially been trying to comfort everyone, were now crying louder than anyone else

Finally, Gao Yang was swept under a waterfall. Fortunately, this waterfall was not very high, and Gao Yang only choked on a few mouthfuls of water. However, when Gao Yang emerged from the water, feeling dizzy, he discovered that he could see both banks of the river.

As a high-calorie and high-energy outdoor essential emergency food, two large pieces of chocolate are what Gao Yang needs the most right now

Thanks to the animal world, thanks to the relationship between humans and nature, these programs have made Gao Yang aware of how terrifying the nights on the African savanna can be. Gao Yang no longer dares to delay; he struggles to get up, wanting to find a shelter for himself. At the very least, he must light a fire before dark.

Gao Yang shook his head, no longer thinking about those useless things. He took out the compass to check the direction, and at that moment, he was astonished to discover that the direction of the sun was to the west. In other words, it was already afternoon, and it was around this time when he boarded the plane, which meant he had been unconscious for a full day and night.

After finishing the meal, while waiting for his strength to recover, in order to distract himself and calm his overly tense and excited emotions, Gao Yang took out the knife he had received from the tour guide and examined it closely

As death approaches, time seems to pass particularly slowly, long enough for one to reflect on their life. At this moment, Gao Yang personally verified this statement, as the scenes he experienced over the past twenty-three years flashed through his mind like a movie.

Gao Yang's eyes were closed, but after the intense pain, the chilling sensation that immediately engulfed him made Gao Yang realize that he was now in the water

Gao Yang decided to camp a little farther from the riverbank to avoid potential wild beasts that might come to drink water, while also guarding against the possibility of the river rising. During the rainy season, even if it does not rain locally, it is quite normal for the water level downstream to rise several meters if there has been a heavy rain upstream.

After a terrifying loud bang, Gao Yang suddenly crashed into the seat in front of him. The impact left him dizzy, and it felt as if his shoulders and lower abdomen were being pulled apart by the seatbelt, nearly causing him to lose consciousness.

Gao Yang's plan is to first find a place nearby to rest for the night, and then start looking for food in the vicinity after dawn the next day. Although his mobility is limited, he has fishing line and hooks, so the chances of catching fish are still quite high

Gao Yang's only regret is that, for the sake of portability, his PSK waist bag is a bit too small. However, before coming to Africa, Gao Yang chose items that were all targeted, so everything in the waist bag is something he urgently needs now

Instinctively, Gao Yang immediately held his breath. After a brief moment, he realized that he was still alive. The plane had crashed into the water, and what he needed to do now was to leave the aircraft and get to the surface.

Gao Yang tried it out; the blade was very sharp and could easily shave hair. It was evident that the owner of this knife cherished it greatly, which left Gao Yang feeling quite emotional. The previous owner of this knife was a white South African, who served as the guide or hunting guide for the hunting group Gao Yang was participating in. On the plane, Gao Yang had chatted with him a few times about this knife, and he never expected that in the end, this knife would end up in his hands.

The so-called PSK is an abbreviation for "personal survival kits" in English, which translates to personal survival equipment. As a military enthusiast and a loyal follower of Bear Grylls' survival show, Gao Yang carries his PSK waist pack year-round. Although he has often been ridiculed as being eccentric, at this moment, his persistence has paid off

Gao Yang knew that although he had narrowly survived the air disaster, the danger was far from over. This is Africa, and if one were to be eaten by a wild beast in the African wilderness, it would never make the news, as such occurrences are far too common.

He drew out the knife and cut through the safety belt that bound him. Gao Yang, suppressing the immediate urge to surface, reached out to feel for the tour guide beside him, intending to cut the safety belt off him. However, upon touching the guide's head, which was only half intact, Gao Yang immediately abandoned the plan to save him. He reached down from his seat and pulled out a life jacket, then kicked off with his feet and floated to the surface of the water

Gao Yuan opened his eyes; although it was still very dark, the flash of lightning allowed Gao Yang to faintly see the situation beneath the water's surface

At this moment, Gao Yang was the calmest person in the entire cabin, but his calm did not last long. Fear, despair, and regret all surged together, especially when he thought of his parents. Gao Yang finally could not help but burst into tears.

By the riverbank, there were many dry branches washed ashore by the flowing water, which were easy to collect. Gao Yang first found a long and sturdy stick to serve as a walking stick, and then began to gather as much firewood as possible in preparation for his first night spent in the African wilderness

After a brief look around, Gao Yang tried to move his body a bit, and then he realized that his physical condition was not as bad as he had imagined. Although his right knee still hurt a lot, there was nothing wrong with the bone; it should just be a bruise. Besides that, although he felt a dull pain all over his body, there were no serious injuries.

The new discovery made Gao Yang breathe a sigh of relief, but then he realized that he was still tightly gripping a knife in his hand. Gao Yang was well aware of the importance of a knife in the wilderness, and naturally, he was unwilling to part with it. However, holding the knife in one hand would hinder his ability to swim to the shore. After a moment's hesitation, Gao Yang, risking being cut by the sharp blade, inserted the knife into his belt and then tightened the belt firmly.

When Gao Yang finally came ashore, he was exhausted, like a pile of mud. The key point is that he was not only tired but also very hungry, extremely hungry.

Uncertain of how long he had been unconscious, when Gao Yang finally opened his eyes, the excruciating pain throughout his body and the overwhelming sense of weakness left him feeling as if life was worse than death

Gao Yang extended his left hand, first touching the guide's arm, and then, after feeling around for a few moments, finally grasped the handle of the knife

As long as there are no serious injuries, it will be much easier. After Gao Yang let out a sigh of relief, he began to check the items on his person. As a military enthusiast and an experienced backpacker, his habit of always carrying a PSK (Personal Survival Kit) with him came in handy at this moment

After cursing resentfully, Gao Yang paddled with all his might, hoping to reach the shore before danger arrived. However, his current strength was simply insufficient to contend with the increasingly turbulent river waters

At this moment, Gao Yang completely disregarded the pain in his right knee. He used both his hands and feet, exerting all his strength to resist the current, desperately trying to avoid the rocks. However, after managing to evade a few times with great difficulty, his luck finally ran out. Gao Yang crashed heavily into a large rock, and then everything went dark before he completely lost consciousness

Reflecting on the fact that he was the only survivor on the entire plane, Gao Yang felt somewhat saddened; however, he also felt fortunate for his good luck. The plane sent by the hunting company to transport people to the hunting grounds was too small. When everyone else complained about the discomfort at the tail of the plane and scrambled for seats, Gao Yang chose the tail, which was relatively the safest position. Apart from good fortune, this was the only reason he survived the air disaster

As long as there is food, Gao Yang can hold on here for a few days, sending out distress signals for rescue. Even if no one passes by during these days, he can wait until it is more convenient to act and make a raft to drift downstream along the river. Gao Yang firmly believes that there will definitely be people living by the river; it is merely a matter of distance from him.

Gao Yang did not know how far he could drift in the river over the course of a day and a night, but he understood that the farther he was from the site of the plane crash, the smaller his chances of rescue would be. Additionally, there was a critical issue: it was getting dark.

What Gao Yang fears the most now is not the impending death, but how his parents will endure the pain of losing him after he is gone

Surprisingly, Gao Yang did not panic much; he merely wanted to ascertain where he currently was, or rather, in which area he was suspended in the air. He felt that even if he were to die, he should at least know the exact location of his demise.

As Gao Yang reminisced about his life in regret, the altitude of the airplane continued to decrease, and finally, after a violent tremor, the airplane plunged downwards

Gao Yang was reluctant and did not dare to finish all the chocolate; he only ate one piece. If it weren't for the fact that he was extremely hungry, Gao Yang would have only eaten a few small pieces of chocolate. Before obtaining any other food, these two large pieces of chocolate were indeed a lifesaver

The craftsmanship of the knife is exceptionally exquisite, and it is immediately apparent that it is handmade. The length of the knife is approximately 32 centimeters, with a thickness of about 5 millimeters. The blade features a drop-shaped tip, and the blade body is finely ground. The guard is made of pure copper, while the handle is likely crafted from desert ironwood, showcasing a beautiful color and grain. The highlight of the entire knife is the perfectly curved line of the burnished edge on the blade, which significantly enhances its aesthetic appeal. It is also due to this burnished edge that it is evident to Gao Yang that this knife is a handmade carbon steel knife, as the vast majority of stainless steel cannot achieve such a remarkable burnished edge, and mass-produced items on assembly lines are even less likely to feature such craftsmanship.

The presence of mist indicates that ahead lies either a waterfall or a treacherous rapid, both of which are deadly for the current high-flying situation.

While working, Gao Yang did not forget to pay attention to the movements around him, as there were too many things he needed to be wary of. It is currently the rainy season, and the grass on the prairie has grown tall and lush. If he did not want to be suddenly knocked down by some wild beast, he had to remain vigilant at all times

Unfortunately, the visibility of the riverbank is not good news for Gao Yang, as it signifies a sudden narrowing of the river channel, resulting in a more turbulent flow. The constricted riverbed is filled with rocks, and the rushing water crashes against these obstacles, creating a perilous environment throughout the river.