The sand was still trembling slightly, as if something was crawling underground. Chen Hao looked down at the tiny lines spreading out at his feet, then looked up at Nana.

She had already crouched down, the camera panned across the ground, and a few seconds later she stood up straight: "The vibration came from the shallow underground layer, possibly a slight movement of the rock strata caused by thermal expansion and contraction, with no lasting risk."

The blue line lit up again, pointing straight ahead, through a pile of rubble, and towards the gradually rising slope.

"Let's go." Chen Hao wiped the sweat from his face. "If I stay here any longer, I'm really going to fall asleep."

He followed, his steps heavier than before. His backpack made his shoulders ache, and the thermos jar clattered against the side. After walking less than a hundred meters, the ground began to slope noticeably, the once solid wasteland turning into a soft incline, the sand sliding down with every step.

"Is this road for people to walk on?" He caught his breath, paused, and then grabbed his knees. "Or is it specifically for fat people to lose weight?"

Nana didn't reply. Suddenly, the projection line turned a corner, drawing a zigzag pattern on the ground.

"Adjust the route to reduce the pressure from the slope," she said. "I suggest using a method of alternating small steps to reduce physical exertion."

"You make it sound so easy," Chen Hao said with a wry smile. "You have long legs; one step of yours is equivalent to two of mine. My body sways like a weight."

He moved slowly along the blue line, stopping to catch his breath every few steps. A gust of wind blew in from the side, carrying the smell of dry earth that tickled his nostrils. His clothes clung to his back, soaked through.

There was a protruding rock halfway up the mountain. He plopped down on it, looked up at the hillside he hadn't yet climbed, and grinned: "Now I understand why ancient heroes were all thin. Fat people can't do this kind of work."

Nana walked to the side, lowered the camera, and pointed it directly at him.

"Your heart rate is currently 137 per minute and your breathing rate has increased by 40 percent, but it is still within a tolerable range."

"You still remember the data?" He turned to look at her. "You remember it better than I do the exam times."

"All action records are updated in real time."

"Then tell me... can I still reach the top?"

"The top of the slope is 523 meters ahead. Once you cross it, you will enter the gentle slope area. Based on the current speed, it will take about 23 minutes."

"Only 500 meters?" Chen Hao shook his head. "It feels like I walked 5 kilometers."

He reached for the kettle, and just as he unscrewed it and took a sip, his foot slipped, and he fell backward half an inch. Startled, he quickly grabbed the edge of the rock.

"It almost rolled down and was used as a ball."

Nana reached out and supported his arm, not with much force, but to keep him steady.

"Hold on to the support point and avoid tilting backward."

"Thanks." He patted her hand. "If you were a real person, I'd kowtow to you right now."

After resting for less than two minutes, he stood up again and continued walking uphill. The blue line lay quietly on the ground, like an unbreakable rope, pulling them forward.

The higher he went, the more loose rocks there were. If he stepped into the wrong spot, the entire slope would tremble slightly. Chen Hao didn't dare to take big strides, so he could only shuffle along with small steps. His trouser legs were covered in mud and dust, and sand got into his shoes, making his soles hurt.

"I should have brought a pair of hiking boots," he muttered. "What I'm wearing now is the kind of boots I'm wearing when I'm fleeing with my family."

He stopped again midway, sat against a large rock, his forehead covered in sweat that dripped down his cheeks.

"Do you think I'm out of my mind?" he suddenly said. "Why didn't we stay at the base and instead ran out to rescue someone? What if that person was already dead? The signal is sent automatically. We would have wasted our time and come back hungry."

Nana squatted down to be at his eye level.

“You once said something,” her voice was flat but clear, “Living comfortably is not the end, it’s the beginning.”

Chen Hao was taken aback.

"Did I say that?"

Chapter 451, Before Departure.

"You're still saving your progress?"

"Important statements have been archived."

He stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Well, the robot can even give you psychological massages."

He stood up, using the rocks for support, and dusted off his backside: "Then let's not let the 'starting point' get stuck halfway up the mountain."

The last thirty meters were the steepest section. The slope was almost vertical, and the ground was covered in loose rocks that were slippery. Chen Hao took off his backpack, leaving only the first-aid kit on his shoulder, and handed the thermos to Nana.

"Take this," he said. "I won't be able to explain if the hot water gets cold."

"The liquid temperature can be maintained above 70 degrees Celsius for up to two hours."

"That's good, so that they don't have to drink something cold first."

He climbed up using both his hands and feet, digging his fingers into the cracks in the rocks and using his knees to brace against the slope. Once, the rock he was stepping on with his right foot suddenly loosened, and he fell forward, only managing to stay upright by clinging tightly to a protruding rock with his left hand.

Nana immediately reached out and grabbed his wrist, and the robotic arm provided a stable pulling force to help him regain his balance.

"Thank you." He was panting. "Next time, could you please tell me in advance which rock will collapse?"

"It is impossible to predict individual rocks with completely uniform weathering."

Couldn't you just say 'be careful'?

"We have repeatedly reminded you to be careful of your footing."

"You're being reasonable, not showing concern for people."

"My behavioral logic includes ensuring the safety of my companions to the greatest extent possible."

"Alright." He smiled. "At least you cared."

Finally, his hand touched the edge of the slope. With a strong push, he flipped himself up.

The ground became level, and the wind picked up. He lay there for a few seconds to recover, then rolled over and lay flat on his back, his chest heaving violently.

“I declare…” he said breathlessly, “This is the longest 500 meters of my life.”

Nana climbed to the top of the slope and stood beside him, the camera panning ahead.

"The entrance to the dense forest is 1,400 meters ahead. The terrain becomes more level, making it suitable for advancing on foot."

Chen Hao raised one hand and gave her a thumbs up.

"Wow, navigation lady is amazing."

He lay on the ground for less than three minutes before getting up: "I've rested enough, let's go."

"I suggest you rest for five minutes."

"Two minutes will do." He waved his hand. "The hot water is still warm. When we find him, he has to be the first to drink."

Morning light peeked through gaps in the clouds, illuminating a dense forest in the distance. The canopies stretched out in a dark mass across the horizon. A blue line veered slightly, pointing towards the faintly visible entrance to a path within the woods.

Chen Hao looked at the road and grinned: "I have to say... it feels a bit like special forces soldiers entering the jungle in a movie."

"Your heart rate is still 18% above the safe threshold. We recommend you rest for three minutes."

"Just two minutes of rest is enough." He waved his hand. "The hot water is still warm. When we find him, he has to be the first to drink."

He looked into the distance, his eyes no longer hesitant.

The two continued along the blue line. The ground gradually changed from sand to hard soil, making a slight echo when stepped on. The forest drew closer, its branches and leaves intertwining and blocking out some of the sunlight.

When they were fifty meters from the entrance, Chen Hao suddenly stopped.

"etc."

He bent down and picked up something—a half-burnt wooden stick with black wire wrapped around it and a small metal piece attached to the end.

"This thing... looks like an antenna?"

Nana took it and examined it; the camera scanned it quickly.

"The material is similar to common components of signal transmitting devices, and there are traces of residual current."

"So, someone set up equipment in this area?"

"Highly likely."

Chen Hao stuffed the wooden stick into the medical kit's inner lining: "Looks like we didn't go the wrong way."

They continued forward. At the entrance to the forest, there was a shallow ditch on the ground, as if it had been left by a heavy object being dragged along.

Nana's projected lines flickered slightly before steadily extending into the forest.

Chen Hao took a deep breath and stepped over the ditch.