From Robinson Crusoe

After brewing all afternoon, the wind howled for a while, but eventually gradually subsided.

But the dark clouds that settled in the sky grew thicker and thicker, the air pressure dropped, and the humidity in the air increased. The howls of wild beasts echoed across the darkness-shrouded wilderness.

Soon, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, as if the heavens had pressed a shutter, capturing the scene of life's prosperity over trillions of years.

A few large raindrops fell sparsely. The Japanese man and "45 yards" barely finished making a rain shelter. Before they could add firewood to the campfire, they hurriedly ran into the shelter to take shelter from the rain.

Watching the rain curtain fall from the clouds, Chen Zhou stopped observing and returned to the mound to meet up with Paul.

……

The two had only anticipated that it might rain tonight, but they did not expect the rain to come so suddenly and so heavily.

Before climbing the mound to observe, Paul collected a few sticks to build a simple shelter. When Chen Zhou returned to the side of the mound, Paul had already groped his way in the dark, sticking the sticks diagonally into the ground and covering them with his protective suit, creating a small shed.

However, the shed was pitifully small and not sturdy enough. Paul had to lean against wooden sticks with his back to support the shed in order to prevent it from collapsing.

Three small, serrated tiger cubs huddled in front of Paul, with a large, roasted fish between them.

But the little ones aren't in the mood to eat right now—

The rumbling thunder and the lightning that pierced the clouds terrified them; this was the wondrous power of nature.

Huddled together, the tiger cubs all had their ears flattened and their short tails drooping. They dared not eat or move, yet they couldn't sleep. They could only stare at the sky and the grassland with the same look of terror on their faces.

Sawtooth tigers possess night vision; in the darkness, they can see more details than ordinary people, such as sparks from lightning striking the treetops or the forked ends of lightning bolts that split open like tree roots…

For the little sawtooth tigers, these were sights they had never seen before, and they could also evoke fears etched deep in their genes.

At times like these, even if Paul were by their side, or even if their own mother were alive and holding them in her arms, it would probably be difficult to give them enough sense of security.

……

"This rain is going to be heavy, we can't stay here any longer, it's too close to the river."

When Chen Zhou returned to the mound, his clothes were soaked through.

The rain did not slow down, but instead intensified. The river surface in the distance was covered with continuous ripples, and the raindrops wove a layer of hazy mist on the water. Every now and then, large fish, lacking oxygen, would stick their heads out to breathe.

As they walked down the mountain, they saw several tributaries of the great river along the way. Fearing that the heavy rains might cause flooding, Chen Zhou decided to take Paul away from this dangerous place, or at least move up the hill to avoid being affected by the surging river.

……

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Paul struggled out of the shed. Chen Zhou helped him tidy up the wooden sticks stuck in the ground, wrapped the remaining fish in his protective suit, and then Paul carried two tiger cubs while Chen Zhou carried one. The two of them started walking along the back of the mound towards higher ground away from the river.

It was too dark, so Paul could only follow closely behind Chen Zhou. Once the distance between them exceeded two meters, he could hardly tell where Chen Zhou was anymore.

Night vision is already difficult, and now with the heavy rain, the rain further obstructs the view. The tall Paul walks on the mound with uneven steps, but dares not lower his head to avoid the rain, for fear of falling behind Chen Zhou.

Paul was not old; he had just turned 24 when he participated in the challenge.

He studied all the way up to university, and during his university years, he participated in the selection process and was fortunate enough to become a reserve challenger. In his simple life experience, he had basically never had any real contact with society. Both the ivory tower and the disciplined army were relatively clean places.

As a result, Paul still retained a youthful mindset.

He was easily moved by grand dreams and heroic stories, and dared to give his life when his blood boiled. He also possessed the shyness and sensitivity of youth, as well as compassion for all living beings.

Squinting, using his long eyelashes to shield himself from the raindrops, Paul silently gritted his teeth.

He felt ashamed of his performance during the challenge.

Having been assigned to the same group for so long, from the disheveled state and vomiting when we first crossed over, and even almost being killed by mosquitoes, to our miserable performance when we were surrounded by cave hyenas;

From disagreements over his insistence on raising the serrated tiger cubs, to Chen Zhou being forced to give him time to rest due to his lack of energy, thus delaying their battle, to now needing a guide to walk in the dark, otherwise he can hardly move an inch in this ancient wilderness...

All these events made Paul doubt his outstanding performance in the army.

He felt that among the challengers, his role was basically just to hold them back.

Imagine if he didn't exist, and only had those few survival tools he possessed, wouldn't Chen Zhou be living a better and more comfortable life? He might have even successfully killed the other two challengers, completing the first step of snowballing his success.

Paul gave an affirmative answer—

Chen Zhou will definitely be more at ease acting alone than working with him, and will be able to unleash a stronger fighting force.

In university and in the army, Paul had never been such a burden to others, limiting their potential as he was now.

Following behind Chen Zhou, drenched by the torrential rain, he sincerely hoped he could do something, even if it meant sacrificing his life. He wanted to be a true partner, a right-hand man, a strong support in the face of challenges, instead of letting Chen Zhou shoulder the burden alone.

……

Chen Zhou, who was standing in front of Paul, had no idea what was going on in his mind.

According to the original plan, after returning to the mound, he should have shared the information he had obtained with Paul as soon as possible, then wove a simple rattan armor for Paul, made a few spears for throwing, and a weapon for melee combat, and then found a suitable opportunity to launch an attack on "45 Yards" and the Japanese.

But plans can't keep up with changes, and this rainstorm disrupted all his arrangements.

He had intended to take advantage of the journey to tell Paul about "45 yards" and the situation with the Japanese, which would be a reasonable use of his time.

But the rain was so heavy that the water on the mounds couldn't seep into the soil and instead gathered into small streams that flowed downstream.

The pattering rain severely impaired his hearing. He used to be able to hear sounds from a kilometer away, but now he was no different from an ordinary person.

As for speaking, rainwater would pour in as soon as he opened his mouth. Even if he could speak clearly, Paul might not be able to hear himself, let alone speak clearly.

Now he's more worried about Paul's physical condition.

In late autumn in high-latitude regions, the rain carries a chill. Walking in such heavy rain for too long can easily cause hypothermia in ordinary people, and in severe cases, it can even lead to death.

Even if a person with good physical fitness can brave the heavy rain, they are still very likely to catch a cold if they don't dry themselves off promptly afterward and warm themselves near a heat source.

Judging from Paul's body fat percentage, hypothermia is unlikely, but whether he will catch a cold is hard to say.

"You little Japanese devil, you're pretty lucky. If it weren't for this rain, tonight would be your death day."

Thinking to himself, Chen Zhou glanced back at Paul, who was struggling to keep up the pace, and could only pin his hopes on the physical prowess of the Russian people.

If Paul were to catch a real cold, the best outcome would be if he didn't expend energy caring for the sick, let alone facing a group of challengers alone, and the subsequent struggle for airdropped supplies.

This godforsaken place is lacking in medical care and medicine. Their only medical supplies are half a bottle of alcohol. Paul might die from a cold, and then he would be all alone again.

……

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and as we walked downhill, some puddles were already submerging our shoes.

In such a torrential downpour, Chen Zhou's extraordinary eyesight was useless, not to mention his sense of smell and hearing; he was practically blind.

He could only rely on his memory to guide him, using precise steps to match the map he had drawn in his mind while navigating the terrain, and accurately adjusting his direction. Fortunately, his memory was unaffected by the heavy rain. After walking for about forty minutes, Chen Zhou led Paul into a forest near the hill.

This forest is far from a major river and has few water sources nearby, so it is less likely to be hit by floods. In addition, the trees are generally low, which can effectively reduce the risk of being struck by lightning.

Low-lying trees have another advantage: their branches are low, making it easy to build temporary shelters.

However, after walking for so long, the two of them, along with the serrated tiger cub they were carrying, were soaked to the bone. At this point, building a shelter would be pointless and unnecessary.

……

They found a large tree that was as thick as two people could hug, and with the help of its dense canopy, Chen Zhou and his companion were finally able to enjoy a "moderate shower".

Paul placed the three wet, serrated tiger cubs under the tree, took off his shirt, revealing the thick fur on his chest and back.

He rolled his clothes into a ball, leaned against the tree trunk, and kept wiping the rain from his face, silently watching the torrential rain that stretched out in lines beyond the tree canopy.

Chen Zhou also took off his clothes, but he took them off more thoroughly, leaving him only in his underwear.

Such heavy rain did not make him feel cold at all; he could only feel the surging power beneath his tough skin.

Hanging his clothes on a tree branch, Chen Zhou ran barefoot into the inky darkness beyond the jungle.

In the distance, lightning bolts that stretched across the sky occasionally illuminated the outline of his strong body and his incredible speed.

Paul, leaning against the tree, looked at Chen Zhou from afar and felt that this man, who had completed a challenge and was surrounded by a mysterious aura, showed no reverence for this ancient wilderness. Compared with those wild beasts, Chen Zhou seemed to be more beastly.

Paul couldn't fathom what Chen Zhou had been through. He could only sense a fatherly composure in this man, occasionally mixed with the madness of a younger generation.

The authority of a leader, the friendliness of an ordinary person, the detachment of someone who sees through the illusions of life and death, the transcendence that comes from being unbound by life and death...

And that inhuman physical ability.

Gazing at Chen Zhou, who seemed to be flying on the tips of the grass, Paul felt a deep sense of awe for this man. This was not only because of Chen Zhou's mysterious background and his courage to participate in the challenge a second time, but also because of the extraordinary temperament he possessed.

……

The rain lasted for most of the night, starting as a downpour, then turning into a moderate drizzle, before finally running out of energy and turning into a light drizzle before stopping.

The cumulonimbus clouds that covered the entire sky poured down rain, no longer as thick as before the rain. In the distance, they even tore open, revealing the deep blue night sky behind them.

A few drops of moonlight shone down from above, illuminating the glistening puddles on the ground.

The grassland seems to be filled with millions of mirrors, reflecting the stars in the sky, scattered across the horizon.

After the rain outside the tree stopped, the "rain" under the tree did not stop.

The water droplets that soaked the bark and remained between the leaves then slowly flowed down, gathering and dripping downwards.

Paul and Chen Zhou wrung out their soaked clothes as much as possible, then used wooden sticks to straighten them and carried them outside the tree.

Like human ancestors, the two men squatted naked at the edge of the woodland, guarding the mound with three small saw-toothed tigers watching over it.

The wind struggled to shake the heavy grass, which was laden with raindrops. The wilderness was silent. Even the insects, which usually chirped incessantly, had lost their arrogance. Wild animals were terrified by the majesty of the heavens, either hiding in their dens or lying in the grass, too afraid to make a sound.

The vast sky, the cool scenery, the fresh air after the rain, and the prehistoric beast cub beside him created an exceptionally charming atmosphere, making Chen Zhou want to light a cigarette.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any cigarettes.

"How are you feeling? Are you going to catch a cold?"

He hadn't spoken during the rain, and only now did Chen Zhou have the chance to show concern for Paul.

clap~
Paul patted his chest muscles, which were covered with thick chest hair.

"It's okay. When I was a child, I often went winter swimming in the lake with my father. You know, it's especially cold where we live in winter."

"It's okay.

Since we can't get a fire going, we can only rely on the wind to dry ourselves.

"Since we have some free time now, let me tell you about the challengers..."

……

The accumulated water was gradually absorbed by the soil, the remaining clouds were pushed away by the wind, and the moon slowly shifted to the other side of the sky.

Chen Zhou and Paul were unable to dry their clothes, so they had to make do with the soggy grilled fish. Then they climbed a tree and used branches to build a makeshift tree bed between the thick branches, where they made do and went to sleep.

However, given the terrible environment, not only Paul, but even Chen Zhou, who could force himself to rest through continuous self-suggestion, couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

The three tiger cubs were also taken up into the tree. After the water in their fur dried, the little guys shivered from the cold when the wind blew.

Paul, who stubbornly insisted that he was in good physical condition, lay to the side, sneezing occasionally. He was also trembling a little, which made Chen Zhou worry that he might catch a cold or even develop a high fever.

"Would you like a drink to warm yourself up?"

Even though he knew that drinking was useless and could only have a psychological effect, Chen Zhou still asked Paul about it.

For Slavs, strong liquor is like canned peaches for Northeasterners; they may not have medicinal effects, but they can provide a kind of spiritual inspiration.

Thinking about the few bottle caps of alcohol he had secretly drunk, Paul stubbornly shook his head.

"I'm fine. Alcohol is life-saving, I can't drink anymore."

After saying that, he turned to the side, covered his mouth, and clenched his teeth to prevent the sound of his teeth clashing as he shivered from reaching Chen Zhou's ears.

Seeing him like this, Chen Zhou stopped trying to persuade him and just stared at the starry sky for a long time without falling asleep.

He wondered if, as a leader, his decisions had been too radical, leading Paul to this point.

If they had taken a more cautious approach and built shelters first, could they have avoided the impact of the rainstorm, and Paul would not have had to risk catching a cold or even dying?

……

Although the tree is short, the two people and three beasts on the canopy are still higher than the ground, so the wind is stronger here.

At first, the little tiger cubs could keep warm by cuddling with their companions, but as dawn approached, they all gathered around Chen Zhou and pressed their wet, fluffy little heads tightly against his waist and the sides of his thighs.

Chen Zhou's body dried much faster than Paul's, constantly radiating heat that attracted the few frostbitten little creatures.

The discomfort caused by the environment conflicted with the drowsiness that instinctively arose. The little ones lay drowsily beside Chen Zhou, unsure whether they were dreaming or in reality. The largest one seemed to remember its mother, stretching its neck and quietly taking Chen Zhou's finger into its mouth, sucking on it with a slurping sound, drawing in the non-existent milk.

In this tranquil, damp environment, as the sucking sounds gradually subsided, a half-sun slowly peeked out from the eastern horizon.

After a night of rain, the sun finally began to unleash its heat. (End of Chapter)