From Robinson Crusoe

The wind howls incessantly all day long, and the darkness never ceases.

The fire in the stove never went out, and the crackling sound of the burning firewood seemed to be an unchanging background noise.

The unchanging scenery blurred people's perception of time. Not to mention Paul and Bi Kai, even Chen Zhou, who had a strong memory and was good at capturing details, gradually forgot that several days had passed.

No one knows exactly how cold it is outside. All that is known is that even the saw-toothed tiger, which was adapted to the Ice Age environment, no longer dares to go out, seemingly terrified of the harsh cold.

……

The stewed meat with pine nuts in the cooking pot was bubbling away, and steam was billowing from the open lid.

In the pitch-black cave, this was one of the few things that could attract attention.

Warm food represents nourishment, hope for survival, and that they are still alive.

As Chen Zhou called out, Bi Kai, who was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) and standing by the fire wall, slowly got up and came to the dining table one after another.

The wooden bowls used to hold rice still had stains left from the last meal. The three of them carried the bowls to the door, pried off a thick layer of frost hanging from the crack in the door, wiped the bowls haphazardly, and returned to the stove.

The candlelight flickered, the rice was served, and the three people holding bowls and chopsticks smiled at each other, each noticing the other's disheveled appearance.

Paul had a thick beard that covered his lips.
Bi Kai grew a goat's horn beard, and no longer looked like a chivalrous knight-errant, but rather like a charlatan.

Even Chen Zhou, who looks the youngest, has a full beard, making him look like a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man.

"I don't know when it will end."

Chen Zhou picked up a pine nut with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing as he spoke.

They had prepared enough supplies for the next three months, but meat was a bit of a problem—

Most of the meat is stored outdoors. In the past, when the temperature was not so cold, it was possible to go out and move it. But now it is too cold, and even going out to pick up meat for such a short time can cause frostbite. As a result, moving meat has become a risky job.

Moreover, the difficulties are not only the severe cold, but also the increasingly hard ice and snow that firmly freezes the "stone safe."

Opening the lid and taking out the meat is not a simple matter; you have to break through the solid ice and lift the lid.

Upon hearing Chen Zhou's words, Paul glanced at Bi Kai but remained silent.

Although he didn't say anything, everyone could see what he meant—

The challenge rules state that the challenge will only end when there are only two people left. Now there are three people in this cave alone, so the challenge may never end.

Chen Zhou took a bite of rice, but seeing Paul's appearance, he hesitated to speak.

He wanted to tell Paul about his origins and his speculations, but he was afraid that Paul would harbor resentment because of it.

It should be noted that the death of the old general whom Paul deeply respected was largely related to him. If Paul had been with the old general when he first arrived, the old general might not have died.

Having participated in two Time and Space Administration challenges, Chen Zhou had witnessed just how eccentric the person manipulating the entire challenge could be, and he knew that the final interpretation of the challenge rules belonged entirely to the Time and Space Administration.

The black-robed man and the Nimman's equipment and behavior clearly violated the rules, and even he himself was teetering on the edge of serious violations.

But to this day, they have not been warned or punished for their violations.

What does this mean? It means that the Time and Space Administration doesn't care about these things at all.

But having kept it a secret for so long, Chen Zhou hesitated, ultimately unsure how to bring it up. After all, he was in the wrong; from the very beginning, he had been deceiving Paul, pretending that he and Paul were in the same group of challengers.

Admittedly, without his supermodel partnership, Paul might have died on the very night he began his challenge.

Deception is deception, and even if the result of a lie is positive, it does not change the nature of deception.

……

The three sat together at a round wooden dining table, the light from the oil lamp illuminating each of their faces.

At such close range, anyone with a keen eye can see every detail of their expression.

Paul waited for Chen Zhou to continue speaking, and he quickly noticed Chen Zhou's hesitation, so he grinned.

When Paul first took on the challenge, he looked rather young. Although Slavs tend to look older than East Asians, Paul was only in his twenties and his life was just beginning.

Now, having experienced life-or-death trials, harsh environments, and the torment of loneliness, Paul is thin and looks much more mature than before.

On either side of his straight nose, a pair of resolute eyes, like those of a hawk, never blinked, revealing the composure of a true warrior.

Paul's beard twitched, and he put down his bowl before finally speaking.

"Chen Zhou, I know you've been hiding this from me."

However, there are many things you didn't actually try to hide, whether it was General Gromov or Bi Kai...

I'm not stupid. Perhaps I had no doubts at first, but from the moment I discovered General Gromov's hat, I had a suspicion.

You weren't my original partner, were you?

When Paul finally asked the question, Chen Zhou's gaze darted away, which was unusual for him, and he did not answer.

Silence is also an answer.

Upon seeing this, Paul lowered his head and sighed deeply, unsure whether he was lamenting that he had been deceived for so long or regretting General Gromov's death.

"Your partner was originally Bi Kai, right? But something went wrong when the challenge started."

You, me, Bi Kai, and General Gromov—the four of us became the most unique challengers, separated into various locations.

I consider myself lucky to have met you, otherwise I wouldn't have survived until now.

Along this journey, I have witnessed far too many dangers that could have easily killed me. Without you, I would not have survived this long.

Bi Kai was also lucky. Even without you, he persevered for a long time, which allowed him to hold on until the day he could meet you again.

General Gromov was the most unfortunate.

As he spoke, Paul sighed again.

"But I don't blame you."

From the moment I signed the contract and decided to participate in the challenge, I assumed I had lost my life. Every participant thought the same way, and I believe General Gromov felt the same way.

On our first night together, I promised you that I would obey your orders and follow your lead. You did not strongly object to many of the decisions I made on my own, such as adopting these three saw-toothed tigers.

In any case, I thank you. You are a powerful warrior, a trustworthy partner, and a brother from another Red Empire.

I only regret that I didn't get to see General Gromov one last time.

Finally, Paul stood up, standing ramrod straight.

He saluted Chen Zhou and then drew his military knife from his waist.

"However, the day will come when I and the general are reunited. We have held on long enough, and I believe no one has more firewood and food than us. Even if they had such a safe and secure shelter, they could not have lasted this long."

I think the fundamental reason why the challenge is not over yet is that—

I'm alive."

"I don't want things to escalate to the point where we have to break off all ties."

You are my good older brother, and Bi Kai is also a very good person. I believe that you will show me a more beautiful landscape and a more colorful future..."

Paul gritted his teeth as he spoke, and then raised the knife to slit his own throat.

Before Chen Zhou could explain to Paul that he was not a challenger at all, Paul became more and more agitated and even tried to commit suicide with a knife. Chen Zhou quickly got up and tried to take the knife away.

Bi Kai, who was standing to the side, didn't understand Russian very well, and Paul spoke very fast. He didn't know what Paul was saying, but he saw that Paul was about to commit suicide, so he hurriedly stopped him.

Fortunately, the distance between the three was not far, less than 2 meters. Chen Zhou's speed when he unleashed his full power was even faster than the naked eye could perceive.

Paul felt a flash of light, and Chen Zhou firmly gripped his wrist holding the knife. No matter how hard he tried, even dragging it with his whole body, his arm seemed to be welded to mid-air, unable to move an inch.

"Are you fucking crazy?"

I hadn't even said anything, and you already started attacking? Who told you your guesses were all correct?

Forced Paul to put down his saber, Chen Zhou pressed down on his shoulders and made him sit on the stool. Helplessly scratching his head, Chen Zhou looked at this stubborn Russian and didn't know whether to be angry or touched.

He ordered Paul and Bi Kai to calm down, added some firewood to the stove, and waited until the atmosphere eased a little before giving his explanation.

Paul and Bi Kai were both shocked to hear Chen Zhou say that he was not a challenger.

Bi Kai knew from the beginning that Chen Zhou was extraordinary. Having witnessed Chen Zhou's skills and martial arts talent, he quickly accepted this explanation.

Paul, however, remained skeptical, always feeling that this was probably a lie fabricated by Chen Zhou to deceive him.

After all, this is too incredible. Since the Soviet Union established the "Rust" project, the number of people who have successfully completed the challenge is close to three digits. Most of them participated in the challenge alone, but there are also those who have completed the challenge in groups.

As a participant in this "rusting" project, Paul consulted numerous materials during his training.

From what he understands, there were no so-called "intruders" in any of the various challenges and projects. So why was it that he only participated in one challenge and happened to encounter someone who happened to be in the challenge?

Moreover, Bi Kai and Chen Zhou are from the same country, and it just so happens that Bi Kai was saved by Chen Zhou, which seems to be a coincidence within a coincidence.

With so many doubts combined, Paul simply couldn't believe that what Chen Zhou said was true.

This is what Chen Zhou fears most—

Even if every word a person says after a lie is the truth, those who have been deceived will never believe them again; once the seed of doubt is planted, it cannot be eradicated.

Of course, Paul's way of thinking was indeed unique.

Those who "intrude" into the challenge may be few, but the lack of a record of their encounters does not mean they do not exist.

On the one hand, intruders will not reveal their identities; on the other hand, those who participate in the challenge for the first time may not encounter intruders at all, even if they are in the same world, they have different things to do.

The participants in the challenge must complete the tasks assigned by the Time and Space Administration, while the intruders must find a way to leave the world. They are already on different paths, so it is naturally even more difficult for them to meet.

……

Six more days passed quietly in an atmosphere filled with suspicion and wariness.

During the last three days of those six days, Paul protested to Chen Zhou more than once, and made it clear that there was no need to continue this stalemate, and that he was willing to sacrifice himself.

Chen Zhou rejected Paul time and time again.

He was convinced of his judgment and felt that one day, the survivors outside would be worn down to death by them, and that would be the true end.

But Paul attempted suicide several times, and Chen Zhou and Bi Kai couldn't keep an eye on him all the time.

Helpless, Chen Zhou made a promise to Paul—

When the firewood was almost burned out and the food was nearly exhausted, the trio voted to sacrifice one of them in exchange for the survival of the other two.

Paul finally calmed down, but he still asked Chen Zhou to carve the promise onto a wooden board so that he wouldn't go back on his word later.

As for who to sacrifice in the vote, Paul had already made up his mind. He would vote for himself without hesitation, just as he had refused to cry for help in the Black Forest.

Like the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the front lines in Moscow, the spirit of sacrifice was deeply ingrained in his soul. If someone had to die, he hoped it would be himself.

It can be said that during that final period, Paul spent every day reminiscing about the past.

He firmly believed in his judgment, and thus believed that his life was already on a countdown and that he would die one day.

Waiting for death is undoubtedly an extremely agonizing experience. A person can muster the courage to commit suicide once, but it is difficult to try again and again after failing, let alone living in such a dark and oppressive environment.

The more one faces death, the unknown world after death, and the more everything turns to nothingness, the heavier the fear becomes, and the more the will to die will waver.

The will to survive is, after all, an instinct of every living being.

As time passed, Paul grew increasingly afraid. He wasn't afraid of death itself, but rather that he would lose the courage to face it.

Fortunately, before that day came to an end.

……

On the night of the 16th day after Paul's first suicide, the cave was filled with the howling wind and the sound of burning firewood, as usual.

Paul, lying on the kang (heated brick bed) unable to fall asleep for a long time, stared at the dark cave ceiling when suddenly a line of Russian text glowed with a blue light—

Вызовзавершен, ты—окончательный победитель.

At the same time, Bi Kai, who was sitting by the fireplace, stood up excitedly.

"Challenge over, you are the ultimate winner!"

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

It is the result of long-term perseverance, the relief after torment, the remembrance of fallen comrades, and the sorrow caused by separation...

However, unlike the other two, Chen Zhou, sitting in front of the stove, showed no reaction until the two of them told him the result, at which point he realized—

"Damn it, you've all finished, why didn't I get a notification?"

……

Paul and Bi Kai had only thirty minutes to pack their belongings before they would receive the "final prize" after the countdown ended and return to their own world.

However, by this point, apart from replenishing the remaining injections, the two had no other valuables.

Right now, all they wanted was to say a proper goodbye to Chen Zhou, the pillar and true core of their team, knowing that after this parting, they might never see each other again. (End of Chapter)