From Robinson Crusoe

It is said that a person cannot get rich without unexpected wealth, and a horse cannot get fat without night grass.

After a life-or-death battle, Chen Zhou and Paul obtained a large amount of essential supplies, the most useful of which was the army pot.

Unlike ordinary iron pots, this pot is also a pressure cooker, which can seal the water very tightly, making the pressure inside the pot higher than 1 atmosphere, and the water can only boil at a temperature above 100°C, thus creating a high-temperature and high-pressure environment that allows the food inside to cook faster.

Moreover, pressure cookers are suitable for high-altitude areas with pressure less than one standard atmosphere, making them perfect for Chen Zhou, who wanted to build a shelter in the mountains.

As for other items, such as a windproof lighter, a Swiss Army knife, a compass with a temperature and humidity display, a sewing kit, water purification tablets, a hand axe, and paracord, they are all useful.

With at least a hand axe and a Swiss Army knife, and two kunai in his pocket, Chen Zhou now had metal weapons, which could help him better deal with tough-skinned wild beasts.

……

On the night after the war, Paul seemed much quieter than usual.

After bringing the serrated tiger cubs and some Gorgon meat and fat back to the Challenger's camp, he kept his head down, sitting by the campfire, mechanically cutting and roasting meat to feed the three hungry tiger cubs whose eyes were practically glowing green, as if he had lost his soul.

Chen Zhou guessed that Paul might have been provoked by his words and was unable to accept the cruel reality of their situation, so he didn't offer any further words of comfort.

At this point, Paul should be given some time and space to be alone, to think for himself, and to find his own way.

He was no longer a child, and the Slavs were no longer weak children raised in a honey pot. The snowstorms of Moscow had already witnessed the courage of their nation, and Chen Zhou believed that he could quickly adjust himself.

……

After a quick dinner, Chen Zhou put all the spoils of war together, including the clothes and shoes of the ninjas and American soldiers, and made distributions.

As the main combatant of the two, Chen Zhou took all the weapons as soon as he opened his mouth.

The American soldier's hatchet, the Japanese ninja's Swiss Army knife, the kunai, and the transparent plastic bottle containing poison all belonged to him.

In addition to these, Chen Zhou also took a windproof lighter and a small compass.

Paul had fire-starting tools and a compass, and giving him these two things was clearly a waste.

The remaining items, including the sewing kit, water purification pills, the two challengers' clothing, the cooking pot, paracord, magnesium rods, and gloves, all belonged to Paul.

Knowing full well that he had contributed little to the raid and played no crucial role in tipping the scales of victory in any direction, Paul did not raise any objections to the distribution of the spoils.

After roasting some meat and simmering a pot of broth with hawk-toothed beast oil, Paul ate with Chen Zhou by the campfire, fed the three serrated tiger cubs, and then took his spoils into the semi-permanent sanctuary.

As usual, Chen Zhou will be on duty for the first half of the night, and he will be on duty for the second half.

However, thanks to the shelter built by the challengers, they were able to sleep much more soundly this time.

……

While Paul slept with his head on the ninja's clothes, the three little serrated tiger cubs remained by the campfire.

Their bellies were bulging, and they all looked exhausted. They lined up crookedly in a row, guarding Chen Zhou.

The cubs' memories are far less vivid than those of adult saw-toothed tigers. Having eaten and slept alongside Chen Zhou and Paul, they have gradually forgotten their mother and the other slain members of their kind.

Perhaps in the understanding of the sawtooth tiger, the concept of "same kind" was simply a non-existent one.

Based on the idea that "whoever provides the food is our mother," they showed closeness and trust to Chen Zhou and Paul, who brought them food, and the alienation they had previously caused due to fear was greatly alleviated.

Especially the largest serrated tiger cub, sometimes it would even leave its brothers and come to Chen Zhou's feet, sleeping with its head on Chen Zhou's shoes, as if there was some kind of scent on them that fascinated it.

……

The temperature on both sides of the river was much lower than in other parts of the grassland late at night.

Chen Zhou, who was on night watch, went to the riverbank to check the temperature. The temperature on the grassland at night was only 17°C, just as autumn was beginning, and there were often strong winds, so the perceived temperature might have dropped to single digits.

In such an environment, ordinary people are very likely to catch a cold if they just sleep in the wilderness for one night, and even experienced outdoor enthusiasts cannot rest in such temperatures for long.

The harshness of the environment has already revealed its fangs.

Chen Zhou could already foresee what this place would look like when the long, cold winter arrived—

Large numbers of animals from mid- and low-latitude regions will die because they cannot adapt to the environment. Only animals that live in Northern Europe, North America, and northern Eurasia and are adapted to the cold will survive.

But this is not a good thing.

Early relief from the torment, hunger, and endless crises might be a better choice.

After the grassland is covered with snow, the only food available to herbivores is withered grass, moss, and lichen. They must consume the fat they accumulated in the autumn to survive the cold winter.

Herbivores that are physically weak, too young, or too old will be the first to die, followed by those unfortunate animals that are targeted by predators.

During this time of year, carnivores that are not yet restrained due to abundant food will reveal their true ferocity in winter.

When they are starving, they even dare to attack mammoths, hunt woolly rhinoceroses, giant ground sloths and other huge creatures. Naturally, even smaller humans are on their menu.

The land is covered in snow, the wind howls all day long, the rivers are frozen, and hungry beasts are everywhere...

Perhaps the real challenge will only begin then.

……

The chill of the night slowly dissipated as the sun rose.

Paul remained silent during the shift change. Whether it was because he hadn't slept well or hadn't adjusted to his condition, he still looked listless, even worse than before he went to bed.

……

Chen Zhou was woken up at around eight o'clock in the morning.

Although the sun was already high in the sky and the earth was bright, a chill lingered on the grassland.

The campfire was fueled with more fuel, and the flames licked the bottom of the cooking pot. The broth had long been boiling, and the bubbling water emitted a mouthwatering aroma.

The three little serrated tiger cubs, who were originally surrounding Paul waiting to eat the cooked meat strips, all ran over when they saw Chen Zhou come out.

With his three little followers by his side, Chen Zhou picked up the wooden bowl left behind by the challenger, scooped up a spoonful of hot soup, and, noticing Paul's expression, asked him with concern.

"Are you sick?"

Paul shook his head and didn't say anything.

Seeing this, Chen Zhou quickly stepped forward and touched Paul's forehead—

It's terribly hot.

"She has a high fever."

"Damn it, why didn't you say you were sick?"

Supporting Paul's swaying body, Chen Zhou placed his palm on Paul's forehead again, sensing that the big man had a fever of at least 38°C, a very dangerous temperature.

However, to Chen Zhou's dismay, the loot he seized from killing the other team of challengers did not include any medicine for treating colds and flu.

He does have some knowledge of identifying Chinese herbal medicines, but this is a prehistoric world. Even if he could find those herbs, the current demand is urgent, and he probably wouldn't be able to find them in a short time.

"We can only try to lower the body temperature physically first, and then replenish fluids and electrolytes to prevent the body temperature from rising further."

Lacking medical care and medicine, Chen Zhou had no choice but to help Paul up, and then, resisting, hoisted the big man onto his shoulder and stuffed him into the shelter.

He then emptied the broth from the marching pot, scooped out a pot of river water, heated it to about 30 degrees Celsius, and threw the ninja's belt into it to soak. He then had Paul use the wet cloth to wipe the sides of his neck, armpits, palms, soles, and other areas where large blood vessels flow.

This effectively helped Paul cool down. While Paul was wiping himself down, Chen Zhou untied the umbrella ropes binding the wooden beams and lifted part of the shelter's roof to allow outside wind to blow into the shelter.

It was around 9 a.m., and the temperature had already risen to about 22°C, which was a suitable temperature for ventilation and heat dissipation.

Leaving Paul alone in the room to cool down, Chen Zhou began to think of ways to get saline solution to replenish Paul's electrolytes.

However, being in the wilderness, there was no salt available.

If you were chasing deer, you might be able to find open-air salt rocks, but there simply isn't that much time now.

Left with no other option, Chen Zhou could only search for wild animals near the riverbank, kill them, and bleed them dry.

Animal blood contains sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc., which are commonly referred to as electrolytes. In addition, it also contains nutrients such as glucose and amino acids.

During the winter when food resources are scarce, wild beasts often tear open the carotid artery in the neck of their prey before the prey's heart stops beating, drinking the blood to replenish the lack of nutrients.

In a sense, blood is an electrolyte replenishment produced by living organisms themselves, only its taste is unpalatable.

……

After wiping his body twice and drinking about half a pound of fresh blood, Paul's complexion finally improved, and his eyes, which had been clouded by the high fever, regained their luster.

Huddled in the shelter, with bright red bloodstains on the stubble at the corner of his mouth, he cried like a child when he saw Chen Zhou carrying a cooking pot and about to leave.

"Chen Zhou, I'm not a good partner. I've been dragging you down the whole time."

He buried his head between his knees and choked out.

"I knew I was sick last night."

I know I'm going to disrupt your plans again, just like I have before. I'm always the one who can't help.

I am ashamed of my name; I am not as strong as Pavel Korchagin.

Chen Zhou, I don't think I can be a hero.

You can leave me here and go on your own. I believe you're better suited for this challenge on your own..."

At the entrance of the shelter, Chen Zhou, who was shielding himself from the sunlight, turned around.

"Comrade, is this how the great teacher of the Soviet Republic guided you forward?"
If you don't want to be a burden to me, stand up like a man and walk the rest of the way with me.

If you want to die, then die something of value. Die in the long, harsh winter that belongs to the Slavs, or die under the claws of wild beasts, or in the attack of enemies, instead of wallowing in self-pity here like a defeated stray dog.

I've always considered you a true partner, an equal friend. How could you become like this because of a simple cold?

Putting down the cooking pot in his hand, Chen Zhou suddenly stood up—

His height exceeded that of the shelter, which he usually had to bend over to walk in. When he stood up, he directly lifted the roof off his head.

As twigs and clumps of moss and mud fell, more light streamed into the shelter.

"Paul Korchagin, stand up!"

Don't cower here like a coward. Don't you want to be a hero who completes the challenge?

Paul blushed deeply after hearing the whole story. He felt ashamed of his evasive behavior, lowered his head, and dared not look Chen Zhou in the eye. He dragged his weak body to his feet and leaned against the wall.

"Listen, as long as you don't give up, I will never give up on you first."

Everyone has their own role to play; you're just not as good at fighting as I am.

Everyone needs to grow. I didn't grow to where I am today in a day, and you won't stay this way forever.

Don't ever say anything like "I'll keep you here" again. If I actually did that, I'd be worse than a wild beast.

Chen Zhou pointed to the three serrated tiger cubs that had followed him into the shelter—

The little guys were terrified by the noise of the roof being blown off. They all flattened their ears, tucked their tails between their legs, and huddled pitifully in the corner between the doorway and the wall.

"At least their elders know to take risks to rescue their young."

"Take good care of yourself. It's just a cold. You'll recover soon, and then we can set off again."

There are no airdrops at the moment, and no other challengers requiring us to devise plans for attacks. We still have plenty of time, and there's absolutely no need to rush.

After saying that, Chen Zhou brushed the moss and dust off his head, bent down, and left the shelter.

……

Just as Chen Zhou had predicted, after physical cooling took effect and sufficient electrolytes were replenished, Paul's body temperature quickly returned to normal.

His physical condition was not bad to begin with, but he was caught in a downpour, slept in the wild with his clothes soaked, did not get enough rest, and participated in a fierce battle, which led to excessive mental and physical fatigue. His immunity was lowered, which allowed the virus to take advantage of the situation.

After sleeping on and off all day and eating some warm food, Paul was able to move around freely by evening, and his complexion was much better than when he had a high fever.

……

Half a fresh poultry leg was simmering in the cooking pot; it was cut off by Chen Zhou from what appeared to be a large bird.

These big birds run incredibly fast; he couldn't catch up with them in a short time.

It is said that those that run on the ground are not as good as those that fly in the sky, and those that fly in the sky are not as good as those that swim in the water.

Chen Zhou originally wanted to catch a few fish to eat, but the thought of the two corpses he had thrown into the river the night before made him feel disgusted, so he set his sights on this huge "free-range chicken".

After several unsuccessful attempts by the riverbank, he was about to return to the camp to get a wooden spear to hunt with throwing weapons when he suddenly remembered that he still had two kunai.

The two shuriken, which were used by Japanese ninjas, felt comfortable to throw. After practicing a few times on the spot and memorizing the feeling of throwing shuriken, Chen Zhou threw a kunai from a distance and directly pierced the big bird's chest.

However, the bird did not die on the spot after being hit by the dart. Instead, it ran for two kilometers until the venom of the giant lizard on the dart took effect and it collapsed.

After Chen Zhou dragged it back to the camp and dissected the carcass, he discovered that the bird's heart and lungs were not located near the chest like a chicken's, but rather further back.

His dart probably struck the lower middle part of the bird's chest, where a thick layer of bone plate mitigated some of the damage. It also deflected the dart's impact, only piercing organs like the proventriculus or pancreas, and wouldn't kill it quickly enough.

But no matter what the process was, the result was pretty much the same; even if the big bird was lucky, it still ended up in the pot.

Looking at the valve that had been lifted up, Chen Zhou asked Paul for his opinion.

"How are you feeling? Are you able to move around tomorrow morning? If so, let's set off tomorrow."

He smiled as he spoke, then turned to look at the shelter built by the ninjas and American soldiers—

It has been dismantled into pieces.

"Forget about this place. It's been demolished. Besides, aren't you afraid they'll climb out of the river and come looking for you if you stay here?"

"Hahaha……"

Paul laughed heartily, observing Chen Zhou's expression. Seeing that he was in a good mood, he took out a bottle of alcohol from his pocket, carefully unscrewed the cap, filled the bottle, and drank it all in one gulp.

"I'm a staunch materialist, I'm not afraid of these things..."

The sound of their conversation was shattered by the wind and vanished into the vast night sky.

The firelight blazed even brighter, and the aroma of the poultry legs inside the pot slowly wafted out. (End of Chapter)