Trapped in a poisonous forest, lost and unable to use a compass, lacking the knowledge of navigation or wilderness survival, how can one possibly survive?
Waiting online!
It's quite urgent!
At this very moment, Yang Lin and Yang Xin were facing this dire problem.
They still had some food and water, but it was only enough to last them three days. Their other supplies had been lost near where the white viper had attacked, and neither dared to go back for them.
Of course, they couldn't go back anyway.
They were completely lost.
Looking up at the dense canopy of branches, the two of them felt a despair that made them wish for death.
Only now did they realize how crucial the middle-aged man and woman who had been protecting them truly were.
In this dangerous forest, even the sound of a single insect could send them into a panic.
And it was still daytime.
They had no idea what they would do when night fell.
Worst of all, what if they encountered another fierce beast like the white viper?
"Do you think... that person is still near us?" Yang Xin tugged at Yang Lin's arm, her face filled with terror. The surrounding insect chirps were, for the first time, making her feel afraid.
"He should be," Yang Lin still held onto his belief. "I think he's definitely hiding somewhere nearby, secretly observing us, waiting for our spirits to break so he can extort a hefty sum from us."
"Hmph! Once this scoundrel is out of here, I'll make sure he gets a taste of my anger," Yang Lin said fiercely.
Just then, a cobra suddenly slithered out in front of them. Both of them shrieked, and Yang Lin lost his footing, falling directly to the ground.
"Yang Lin, quickly get rid of it! It's going to come over here soon," Yang Xin pointed at the cobra, her face a mask of fear.
After all, she was a girl and not trained in martial arts. Seeing the venomous snake now, her legs felt weak.
Yang Lin also stumbled back several steps, until he was pressed against a tree trunk, with nowhere else to retreat.
However, the cobra merely flicked its tongue at the two of them, showing no signs of aggression.
The three parties remained in this standoff for quite some time. Eventually, the cobra indicated that it had other matters to attend to and was the first to end this awkward encounter.
The siblings exchanged glances, relieved they had narrowly escaped.
But by this time, it was already afternoon.
They ate a little something, then gazed at the surrounding trees, a sense of helplessness washing over them.
Yang Xin could no longer bear it and called out to Lin Xiao Tian a few more times.
But apart from the sounds of insects, there was no other response.
"Heh heh, this person truly doesn't understand the art of negotiation," Yang Lin suddenly chuckled.
"What are you thinking now?" Yang Xin asked.
"Don't you think he's rather foolish? When that slippery snake appeared earlier, if he had stepped in to save us, we would have agreed to anything. But..." Yang Lin paused. "He didn't!"
"So, he's foolish?" Yang Xin followed his line of thought.
"Yes!" Yang Lin said proudly. "And he's not good at dealing with people. He doesn't realize that the more he acts like this, the less reward we'll give him after we get out."
"Is there a possibility that... he's already left?" Yang Xin tentatively asked.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Yang Lin waved his hand, displaying a confidence akin to a certain historical figure known for his ambition. "He wants our Long Life Grass; he can only exchange for it with us!"
Yang Xin was silent for a moment, then asked.
"What if he can find it himself?"
"Heh heh, you don't understand this, do you?" Yang Lin looked at her with a sly smile.
Yang Xin was stunned.
"Didn't you notice how coincidental his appearance was? Why did he choose to show up and 'save' us only after our bodyguards were dead?"
"Why?"
"To gain our trust!" Yang Lin grinned cunningly. "I can't be entirely sure, but haven't you noticed? That white python that attacked us seemed to obey him. Is it possible that he sent the snake as well, all to gain our trust?"
Yang Lin looked earnestly at Yang Xin. "I can guarantee, his goal is not just the Long Life Grass; he likely wants to infiltrate the Yang family!"
Yang Xin was completely taken in by Yang Lin's explanation and actually nodded along.
Fortunately, although she was terrified, her mind hadn't completely short-circuited. She immediately raised another question.
"But... is there a possibility that he's not trying to enter the Yang family? If he truly had that intention, he would know that our Yang family would never allow any outsiders into its core. At most, he would be an outsider."
"This..." Yang Lin was stumped.
Indeed, their reclusive family, to prevent any infiltration, would never allow any outsider to join.
"Then it's about the Long Life Grass; he's just trying to gain more leverage."
"But, you said he's so powerful, yet he didn't even control that giant snake. Why didn't he just kill us and steal our belongings? After all, it was a wild beast, and in a forest like this, no one would suspect him."
"That means the snake was a coincidence, but he saved us to gain more leverage."
"That's not right either. If what you say is true, he shouldn't have saved us. If we had died from the snake, he could have gotten the Long Life Grass instead."
Seeing Yang Xin dismantling his conclusions one by one like a curious baby, Yang Lin's face turned red.
"You just keep asking questions. Can't you think for yourself? Anyway, I just feel that he'll show up again sooner or later. Just wait and see, for the sake of what we have, he'll come eventually!"
"Mm!"
Yang Xin's mind had gone blank by now, and she simply listened to Yang Lin's spin.
Until nightfall.
As the sky completely darkened, the two of them fell into a panic.
"Isn't he coming out yet?"
"I know you're nearby."
"Come out!"
"Let's renegotiate."
"I admit, you've successfully caught my attention."
Yang Lin theatrically directed his domineering CEO persona towards the surrounding forest, venting his frustrations.
A gust of wind blew past, as if mocking him, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Yang Xin looked at the pitch-black forest around her, the insect chirps seeming to be right beside her, and she had started to cry.
"Wuwuwu... What do we do? I'm going to die here. It's all your fault; I never thought I'd have to die with you, you fool."
"What are you doing? I'm telling you, the more you act like this, the more pleased he'll be," Yang Lin stubbornly insisted.
"Kid, you see? You've completely won, so come out quickly!" Yang Lin shouted again.
Just as he was about to shout again, a wolf's howl from the forest completely shattered his composure.
"Quick, quick... make a fire."
Yang Xin was already in tears, and Yang Lin, though close to tears himself, had no choice but to desperately try to steady his trembling hand to operate the lighter.