Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Encounter and Attack!
"The water source is this way?"
Ding Decai, panting heavily at the end of the line, couldn’t help but ask, "I remember it being to the east?"
"It’s the same this way."
Yan Bian replied without turning his head, "The previous water source was downstream. Yesterday we explored upstream and found this way is closer."
"Besides fetching water today, we’re going to head further upstream to explore a larger area."
Hearing this, Ding Decai muttered a curse under his breath.
Exerting physical energy was not something he was up for.
Just as Ding Decai was pondering how to slack off,
Yan Bian suddenly signaled the two to stop and crouch down.
"What’s wrong?"
Ding Decai grumbled discontentedly.
Yan Bian raised a hand, gesturing for silence: "Something’s up."
"I sense something hiding, the bird calls here have noticeably decreased."
Ding Decai frowned and also lowered his voice, "Really? You can sense that?"
"Yes, maybe it’s because we’ve been in the rainforest for several days, my senses have improved a lot."
As Yan Bian spoke, he cautiously observed their surroundings.
...
In the shadows.
Chen Wen frowned, watching the three figures moving among the bushes.
People!
And they don’t look like good people!
After all, who carries weapons if they’re good people?
Judging by their skin color, they seem to be Asian, possibly from Hua Country?
As Chen Wen changed direction, he observed the three in the rainforest.
Besides their skin color, Chen Wen noticed their weapons were quite new.
This means these people might have just arrived on the island.
Could it be that drug dealers are planning to establish a new drug-making base on this island?
Sending people to scout first?
But why don’t they have firearms?
Chen Wen noticed two of the three were carrying long spears, and the one at the back seemed to be carrying a crossbow.
Who are they?
Why are they on this island?
Are they good or bad?
Chen Wen couldn’t determine, so he could only continue to follow the three.
...
In the open.
Yan Bian whispered, "There’s really something! And it’s been following us! Listen to the strange rustling noise behind us."
Upon hearing Yan Bian, Zhang Hu was not very scared.
He whispered, "Mr. Yan, what do we do?"
"I’ll try to scare it out, see if it’s a beast!"
As Yan Bian spoke, he suddenly shouted, "Ah!"
With the unexpected shout, not only beasts, but even Zhang Hu and Ding Decai were startled.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Ding Decai cursed, clearly shaken.
...
In the shadows.
Chen Wen frowned and immediately crouched in the grass.
Have I been discovered?
Previously, when encountering a black panther in the rainforest, he realized humans have a strong sense of danger.
Could they have sensed the danger?
Though hidden by the foliage, Chen Wen wasn’t sure if they discovered him.
But he dared not act rashly now.
...
Yan Bian frowned and said, "Not a beast! It might be a person!"
A person?
Ding Decai also sensed something amiss and removed the crossbow from his back, "Is it those who killed the black panther?"
"I’m not sure."
Yan Bian gently shook his head, signaling the others to continue moving forward with him.
"It could be them or other people, the fact that they discovered us but didn’t show means they’re wary of us!"
"Maybe it’s because we’re carrying weapons. I’ll shout in English, see if we can get them out, remember, without my permission, don’t aim weapons at them!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hu nodded, and Ding Decai nervously nodded as well.
Yan Bian thought for a moment and shouted in English, "Hello? We mean no harm! Where are you? We can meet and help each other."
English?
Chen Wen in the shadows became even more anxious.
It seems they really are from Southeast Asia!
Chen Wen didn’t move.
Yan Bian and the others waited for a while without hearing any response.
All three became tense as well.
"Seems they don’t want to meet us."
Yan Bian whispered, "Let’s be careful, fetch the water and leave!"
He advised the two while deliberately speaking in English about his objective.
Fetching water?
Chen Wen remained silent, just following them quietly.
Seeing that the three were simply fetching water, Chen Wen felt a bit relieved.
Based solely on what they said, these three didn’t seem to be bad people.
Should he go out and meet them?
Ask if they can help him?
On the first day, Chen Wen would definitely have approached them immediately.
But days of survival made him more cautious and wary.
As he watched the three about to finish fetching water and leave,
Chen Wen gritted his teeth: Gamble it!
He stood up from the bushes and spoke in English, "Hello..."
Just as Chen Wen intended to state his purpose.
Yan Bian and the others had been tense all the while and could no longer hold it together.
Yan Bian, who was fetching water, was startled by the sudden voice, lost his footing, and sat right into the creek.
This jolted Ding Decai into a fright, instantly raising his crossbow.
Zhang Hu, too, reflexively lifted his long spear to bolster his courage.
Seeing such hostile gestures, Chen Wen thought, "Not good."
Sure enough!
They’re not good people!
Chen Wen bent over swiftly and hid back into the bushes, moving quickly.
Seeing this, Ding Decai pulled the trigger at once.
Amid Yan Bian’s attempt to stop him, he shot at the bushes where Chen Wen had just stood.
Whoosh! Thunk!
The crossbow bolt flew and embedded itself in a small tree half a meter behind Chen Wen.
Damn it!
Chen Wen was both shocked and furious, not expecting them to attack him outright.
No need to say anything more!
Their group was definitely not good people!
Chen Wen quickly hid himself and fled to the northwest.
...
"What are you doing!"
Yan Bian angrily snatched the crossbow from Ding Decai’s hand.
Ding Decai wore a shocked and unsettled expression, "I... I don’t know!"
He was scared.
Yan Bian shook his head helplessly, tossed the crossbow back to Ding Decai.
Though the other party intended to convey goodwill, it was too sudden!
The three of them had been in a tense state.
The sudden sound scared the three of them, causing a reflexive reaction.
Simply put, they were triggered.
Zhang Hu and Ding Decai almost instinctively raised their weapons.
If it were just this, it could be slowly explained.
But Ding Decai directly shooting the crossbow made a complete offense to them.
Not caring whether the other party could hear,
Yan Bian loudly shouted in English, "We have no malice! It was just a misunderstanding earlier!"
Misunderstanding?
Damn!
I almost got shot by you!
Chen Wen couldn’t help but curse internally.
He completely lost trust in them.
Seeing no further appearances from the other party, Yan Bian began to panic as well.
How many of them are there? Do they have weapons?
Will they take this as a provocation?
Will they attack us?
At this moment, Ding Decai suddenly said, "Should we chase after them? I saw clearly, it’s just one person!"
Hearing this, Yan Bian was taken aback.
Ding Decai continued, "The other side might already see us as hostile, now we can only catch up and clarify things."
"If we don’t, they might consider us the enemy and even attack us! Who knows if they have weapons!"
Yan Bian hesitated, "I... don’t think so."
"Don’t just think!"
Ding Decai got a bit anxious since he was the one who shot.
If there’s retaliation, he’d surely be the prime target.
"We should catch up and explain, Zhang Hu, chase them!"
After finishing his words, Ding Decai ran ahead by himself.
Zhang Hu hesitated for a moment, also believing catching up and explaining was better.
Seeing the two chase after them, Yan Bian felt lost.
If they pursue now, won’t it deepen the misunderstanding?
But Yan Bian didn’t dare to stay behind alone either.
He gritted his teeth and followed in pursuit.
However, Yan Bian was running while loudly explaining in English.