Chapter 004: Torrential Rain
In the eyes of humanity, what is considered an extremely harsh environment is, to Aoki, not harsh at all. Coupled with Aoki's feelings of hatred towards them for their actions, he feels a great sense of satisfaction at this moment. The suffering of the enemy is the joy of oneself; this phrase aptly explains Aoki's psychological state at this time.
Aoki counted briefly and estimated that more than 30 small trees had been cut down, while the large-leaved unidentified plants had been completely cleared, all used for bedding and to construct makeshift shelters. In this jungle, it rains heavily approximately every two days, making makeshift shelters essential for humans to shield themselves from the rain
Aoki was extremely nervous, fearing that he would just step down and break himself. Fortunately, this terrifying event did not occur; the shoe landed just 10 centimeters away, leaving a deep mud pit.
Then Qingmu saw the team leader swinging a machete, striking forcefully to cut the neighbor's fir tree in half, and quickly stripping away the other branches and leaves, leaving only the central trunk and an ant nest.
Nevertheless, at this time, those humans also endured considerable suffering
Just as these 5 individuals were struggling against the harsh environment, Aoki finally saw what he had been hoping to see
The team leader then walked up to Aoki, holding a knife.
The clothes are wet, the items are wet, and everything that is not packed in waterproof bags, including books, is wet. Five explorers are starving and freezing in a cold, soaked, dark, and dangerous environment, unable to sleep. They feel as if it is the end of the world.
The current situation is causing the team leader a great deal of headache. It seems that if they do not manage to rest properly today, there will be no way to leave this place. However, the feeling that something happened continues to linger in his mind, refusing to be shaken off.
What is going on? What does he want to do? Aoki is perplexed
"Charlie, I have no way to help you; the medicine we prepared was lost in the water during the last capsizing, so we cannot treat you for the time being. However, do not lose heart; we will take you back, and once we return, we will be able to heal it," the team leader comforted him. Yet, the team leader knew in his heart that after last night's heavy rain, Charlie's foot had been completely ruined, and even if they returned for treatment, amputation was likely the outcome. Nevertheless, in this difficult moment, it was essential to instill in him a determination to stay strong. The team leader understood that after last night's heavy rain, Charlie's foot had been completely ruined, and even if they returned for treatment, amputation was likely the outcome. Nevertheless, in this difficult moment, it was essential to instill in him a determination to stay strong.
After nearly half an hour, the team leader finally gathered some dry firewood and a few other items. Once the fire was lit, everyone forced themselves to the bonfire, enjoying this precious warmth
The other individuals were each attended to by the leeches. However, the one who did not fall ill, having prudently followed the leader's instructions to roll up his pant legs into his socks, thus thwarted the leeches' attempts.
However, the other trees were not so fortunate. At this time, these humans had built a total of 5 bed frames around the campfire, which naturally required a considerable amount of wood
At this moment, 5 individuals remain oblivious to the impending danger.
After the sun rises, animals such as ants, leeches, bees, insects, and spiders continuously hop out and crawl out of their nests in the sight of the green trees, searching for food in the new day
Although there is no wind in the forest, and thus no slanting rain, the simplicity of the camping shelter cannot be overlooked. Droplets of rain, the size of marbles, fall from the high treetops like swarms of wasps, striking the shelter covered with large leaves. Some of the rainwater is channeled along the veins of the large leaves and flows outside the shelter, but a considerable amount of rainwater, due to insufficient guidance, directly enters the shelter.
Several leeches, having caught the scent of blood, swiftly crawled beneath one of the humans under the watchful gaze of the green tree. Their target was a person suffering from a cold, lying on a makeshift bed. After much effort, they finally climbed up the tree trunk to the bed, which was half a meter off the ground, and then slipped into the pant leg of this individual.
"May they not die a good death! May they not die a good death! Ah!" Aoki was filled with rage, at this moment harboring an extreme hatred towards these five humans.
Aoki felt a bit of goosebumps, and an unsettling sensation arose within.
Apart from 2 individuals suffering from severe colds and one with severe trench foot, only the team leader and another person, due to their robust physique, managed to persevere without contracting any illness
If that python were to arrive, it would be even more wonderful. In the pitch-black night, suddenly a python appears beside humans, raising its head, flicking its tongue, and opening its mouth wide to swallow a person whole. The other humans are awakened, then panic-stricken, fleeing in all directions. In the days that follow, not only will they be hunted by the python, but they will also endure hunger, fatigue, disease, and terror. Even if they are fortunate enough to escape the jungle, they will carry lifelong psychological scars. Thinking of this, Aoki cannot help but feel excited. In the days that follow, not only will they be hunted by the python, but they will also endure hunger, fatigue, disease, and terror. Even if they are fortunate enough to escape the jungle, they will carry lifelong psychological scars. Thinking of this, Aoki cannot help but feel excited.
A ripple appeared in the stream that had not yet receded, not very conspicuous, but somewhat different from the ripples of the water flow. If it weren't for Qingmu's constant gaze at the water's surface, he might have overlooked this detail.
I hope everything will be safe in the coming days. However, ever since arriving at this place, I have a constant feeling that something has happened. Is someone watching? I have never encountered such a situation before. The team leader became alert, but unfortunately, it is already getting dark, and there is no way to leave.
Although these team members have all received professional training and possess a certain level of practical experience, the journey has not been smooth. First, the small boat broke down and could not be repaired; then, food was accidentally lost; and finally, one member contracted trench foot, making it difficult for them to walk, which slowed down the entire team along with the books.
While the team leader was deep in thought, Aoki was relieved that he was not among those who were to be eliminated
Call! Call! Call!
Many small birds continue to showcase their singing voices in the jungle, bringing smiles of happiness and hope to humans who have experienced extreme darkness
As the night passed, the sky brightened quickly; however, the python did not appear as Qingmu had anticipated.
I hope my intuition is wrong
As everyone began to rest and prepare to cook, the team leader also started to summarize the events of the past few days
The python has finally appeared; let me witness how it hunts!" Aoki exclaimed with excitement
It is said that these leeches can secrete an anesthetic while sucking blood, rendering the bitten person completely insensitive. At this moment, the patient is in such a state, feeling no sensation of being visited by the leeches, and continues to lie weakly in bed, resting
However, at this moment, the torrential rain brought them great trouble. The fire that had been kindled was quickly extinguished under the onslaught of the heavy rain, and the group could only eat the dwindling supplies of dry rations. Due to this downpour, not only was the hot and delicious meat soup gone, but even the fire for warmth was extinguished
Subsequently, Aoki saw an enlarged shoe sole stepping down beside him
Then walk back and directly place the ant nest on the fire to burn it
Because the camping sites of humans are situated at a relatively high elevation, the rushing water did not affect them
Although they wanted to gather 5 people together for warmth, the shelter they constructed was simply too small to accommodate more than one person. The harsh environment prevented them from sleeping, and any experience was merely a joke in the face of nature's power
Aoki, due to its small size and the fact that its leaves are not suitable for providing shelter from the rain or for cushioning, was overlooked by those who were cutting down trees, thus escaping a calamity
The sky quickly darkened, and a torrential rain began to fall in the jungle. Although the jungle helped to retain some water, it could not withstand the heavy rain, and the water level of the stream soon rose to a height of 10 cm beneath Qingmu's feet. The stream rapidly transformed into a river, with waves crashing and surging one after another, clearly indicating that it was both swift and deep, posing extreme danger
After being drenched all night, unable to sleep, and enduring hunger and cold, two individuals have already contracted a severe cold. Meanwhile, another person, who has been afflicted with trench foot, has had his feet soaked in rainwater for an entire night, resulting in severe decay of the skin on both feet. At this moment, he cannot even dare to touch his feet, let alone use crutches. Any slight pressure will cause the decayed skin to deform, exposing the bones beneath.
After a night of heavy rain in the jungle, it has become quite difficult to find dry wood and grass. At this point, only two individuals with mobility remain. The team leader, due to his extensive experience, decides to search the surrounding area for dry firewood and, at the same time, look for some medicinal herbs. The other person stays at the campsite to keep watch.