The condition of the official exploration team was dire.
Several were heavily wounded, six were in deep comas, and the remaining thirty-odd people who still had the capacity to move had spontaneously divided themselves into three groups.
One group patrolled and scouted for enemies, another went out to hunt for food, and the final group protected the wounded and the specimens and materials they had painstakingly collected over the past few days.
Lyu Dongfang’s face had originally been quite clean and handsome, but after spending more than half a month in this sunless secret realm, he was covered in dark stubble. Having gone without proper rest for days, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a wild man—certainly not a pretty sight.
The person who had fired just now was a young soldier who looked like he had only just reached adulthood. Knowing he had made a mistake, he kept his head bowed and didn't dare say a word, looking like a child who had done something wrong.
“Ma Guniang, please forgive this young comrade. He hasn't experienced things like this before, and his nerves are frayed. Seeing someone suddenly floating in the air, he thought he had fallen under the illusion of a demon beast, which is why he—”
Liu Ruhe’s heart was heavy, but she still remembered to explain to Nan Zhi on behalf of the young soldier.
“A while ago, we encountered a type of demon beast that looked like a rabbit. These things can mimic human speech and pretend to be fallen comrades calling for help. His squad leader was lured away by one of those rabbits into a karst cave to save someone, only to be torn apart and eaten by a swarm of spiders. Sigh.”
She let out a heavy sigh. The young soldier who had fired was already sobbing. He bowed deeply to Nan Zhi and said with a shaky voice:
“I’m sorry. I made a mistake and fired at one of our own. Ma Guniang, you can execute me, but I beg you, please take Professor Liu and the collected samples out of here. They are educated people, and their contribution to Great Xia is much greater than mine.
“There’s also Section Head Qin. Her wound has worsened, and she really can’t wait any longer... If this continues, she’s going to die.”
Nan Zhi: “...”
She wasn't that cold-blooded. She wouldn't kill someone over such a small matter, would she?
Qin Yue was injured too?
“That’s right! Didn't we blow up the passage? Ma Guniang, how did you get in?!”
Standing to the side, Lyu Dongfang’s eyes suddenly filled with a flicker of hope. He held his breath and asked cautiously:
“Ma, Ma Guniang, do you... do you have a way to get out of this hellhole?”
Nan Zhi didn't answer, only raising an eyebrow. “Where is Qin Yue?”
“Section Head Qin was injured and is still unconscious.”
Lyu Dongfang’s expression was complicated, seemingly finding it hard to speak. After a long moment, he said in a raspy, dejected voice:
“Liu Guansheng... to save me and my sister, he was also badly hurt...”
“Lead the way.”
Nan Zhi interrupted him, gesturing with her chin. Lyu Dongfang understood, his entire being radiating joy as he rushed ahead to lead the way.
“This way. We’ve been stationed under this stone platform for a while now. Although this place is strange, it’s not entirely without a path to survival. The closer we get to the stone platform, the fewer of those strange demon beasts there are.
“Fortunately, we aren't short of food and water for the time being. Otherwise, we really wouldn't have lasted until the day we met you...”
Lyu Dongfang was scruffy, and the others weren't much better.
In the camp, there were young soldiers in their late twenties, both men and women. They bore various degrees of injuries, with gauze wrapped around their arms. The yellowed gauze was frayed at the edges, with faint red bloodstains seeping through.
Their temporary camp was located right behind the altar, under a tall lotus lamp that was missing a corner. It was sheltered from the wind, and by widening the gap inward, it had become a natural, hidden shelter.
The wounded were resting on a piece of animal hide of unknown origin. Most of the others looked exhausted, staring blankly while clutching their firearms tightly.
Occasionally, one or two who were awake would immediately raise their weapons like an involuntary reflex upon hearing footsteps, glaring fiercely with bloodshot eyes at the newcomers.
Their nerves were stretched to the limit, as if the slightest disturbance would cause their sanity to snap.
The young soldier who had fired at Nan Zhi earlier had also made that error in judgment out of extreme fear and panic.
“It’s one of us! It’s Ma Guniang! Everyone, put your weapons down! Put them down!”
“...We’ve been finding survivors from the previous six exploration teams here one after another. Only a third of the total number remains in this camp now.”
Lyu Dongfang hurried to stand in front of Nan Zhi, calming the others. Once they lowered their guard, he approached the wounded lying furthest inside. Liu Ruhe let out a soft sigh:
“Section Head Qin did this to protect the experimental materials. When we were collecting samples, we ran into a giant spider. We didn't have enough ammunition, so Section Head Qin told us to take the samples and leave first while she killed the spider alone.
“By the time we returned with reinforcements, she had already fallen into a deep coma. It’s been seven days now.”
Qin Yue was lying on a thick blanket, her eyes tightly shut, her lips blue, and her face shrouded in an ominous black hue.
She seemed to be enduring great agony, her forehead drenched in sweat. Large beads of sweat slid down her neck, making her look as if she had just been pulled out of water.
As for the blanket she was lying on—upon closer inspection, it was actually a thick, furry Dan Spider skin.
“She’s been poisoned by a Dan Spider. Fortunately, you weren't completely stupid and knew to wrap her in that beast’s skin to keep her alive.”
Nan Zhi’s expression was calm as she took a bottle of Blood Supplementing Pills from her belt and tossed it casually to Lyu Dongfang.
“Feed it to her.”
She had seen the spiders that harmed people in the 《Ten Years of Gu Records》, but one this large was indeed rare.
Lyu Dongfang did as he was told. About three breaths after the pill entered her mouth, Qin Yue’s expression softened significantly. The blue-black tint on her face dissipated, and the color slowly returned to her lips.
However, she still did not wake up.
The others stared at Nan Zhi expectantly, seemingly treating her as their only hope.
“The remaining poison in her body hasn't been cleared, and her essence blood is depleted. Give her plenty of spirit-rich meat to replenish the essence blood she lost.”
Leaving these words, Nan Zhi turned and walked out.
“When she wakes up, tell her to come see me on the stone platform. I need someone I can talk to.”
She walked a dozen meters away, and behind her, muffled but unmistakable cheers of joy broke out.
Some were laughing, some were crying, and some were embracing each other, trembling as they let out low howls to release the helplessness and despair in their hearts.
Nan Zhi’s arrival was like a morale boost for this small team that had been on the verge of collapse.
The reason human civilization could endure was that they never gave up on even the slightest glimmer of hope.
Even in desperate straits, they would find every possible way to survive.
Nan Zhi stopped her footsteps and listened for a moment. Sure enough, in the corner, Lyu Dongfang was peeking out, seemingly hesitating whether to step forward.
After a while, he awkwardly walked up and bowed solemnly to Nan Zhi.
“Ma Guniang, I... I know I shouldn't have come to you. I offended you before, and I apologize!
“I also know I’m not very capable. In your eyes, I might be useless, but I still have this worthless life I’m willing to sell to you. I just want to ask... could you... could you...”
He rubbed his face, seemingly afraid of hearing a rejection, his voice trembling as he spoke.
“Those life-saving pills in that bottle... once Section Head Qin wakes up, could you give one to my sister and Liu Guansheng?”
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