But when Zhou Chuang passed by a coconut tree...

A coconut fell from the coconut tree with a loud thud, hitting Zhou Chuang squarely on the head. The sudden impact made his vision go black for a moment, and he staggered a few steps, clutching his head, before collapsing to the ground.

Zhou Chuang was a little dazed from being hit. He looked up at the lush coconut tree and couldn't help but wonder, "Why is this coconut tree being so 'enthusiastic' today?"

After leaning against a coconut tree trunk to catch his breath for a while, Zhou Chuang stood up again and walked towards the sea.

Upon arriving at the beach, a flock of about ten seagulls flew directly overhead.

However, instead of circling and playing in the air or skimming low over the sea in search of food as usual, they simply left their droppings on Zhou Chuang's head.

Zhou Chuang was stunned, and couldn't help but laugh bitterly. His luck was so good that he could buy a lottery ticket.

The seagull droppings instantly gave him an indescribable sense of "gift." He quickly covered his face with his hands, trying to scare away these uninvited guests, but the seagulls seemed to have identified his "treasure trove" and continued their "air raids" without giving an inch.

"Hey, hey, you little guys, I'm here to enjoy the beach, not to be your natural target!" Zhou Chuang shouted, both amused and exasperated, as he dodged the seagulls. But the seagulls didn't understand him and continued to do as they pleased.

Finally, after Zhou Chuang's frantic "counterattack," the seagulls seemed to lose interest, flapped their wings and flew back over the sea to continue their free flight.

Zhou Chuang breathed a sigh of relief. Although his head and body were covered in some unsightly marks, he couldn't help but smile wryly: "Looks like today is a Mercury retrograde day."

He walked to the beach, left on a pair of shorts, and washed the seagull droppings off his head and body.

The seawater was cool and slightly salty, washing over Zhou Chuang's body as if to take away a bit of bad luck.

He scrubbed his hair and body vigorously to remove the grime. Although the seagull droppings were embarrassing, they gradually became less of an eyesore after being washed by the seawater.

Zhou Chuang took a deep breath, feeling the sea breeze on his face, and the depression in his heart dissipated considerably.

However, out of Zhou Chuang's sight, a group of small jellyfish were quietly approaching him. They floated lightly in the water, their transparent bodies shimmering in the sunlight, like sea creatures.

Zhou Chuang was so engrossed in the coolness and tranquility of the seawater that he was completely unaware of the potential danger.

Suddenly, a small jellyfish accidentally touched Zhou Chuang's skin, and its tiny tentacles stung him, causing him a sharp pain.

He abruptly withdrew his hand and looked down, only to see several small jellyfish swarming around him, some already clinging to his skin. Zhou Chuang was startled and quickly swam towards the shore, knowing that although jellyfish tentacles may appear delicate, their venom should not be underestimated.

After getting ashore, Zhou Chuang quickly checked his skin and found that several places were red and swollen, accompanied by a slight stinging sensation.

He was about to get ashore to put on his pants and clothes when his legs gave way. A jellyfish was clinging to the spot where he had scraped his knee, which was now swollen terribly.

Immediately afterwards, I felt numb and itchy.

Zhou Chuang was in so much pain he almost cried out, but he gritted his teeth and tried his best to remain calm.

He knew that injuries sustained at the beach, especially jellyfish stings, had to be treated as soon as possible, otherwise the situation could worsen.

Zhou Chuang planned to return to the camp shelter to rest for a while before checking the situation further.

However, a strong, strange wind blew, pushing Zhou Chuang forward. This sudden change caught Zhou Chuang off guard. He tried to steady himself, but it was as if he was being pulled by an invisible force, and he involuntarily staggered forward a few steps.

The strange wind seems to be blowing in the direction of...

Zhou Chuang seemed to have thought of something, and his heart skipped a beat. He then quickened his pace and walked towards the shelter.

When he returned to the shelter and saw the scene before him, Zhou Chuang was on the verge of tears.

When he left, his shelter was still there, and he was fine. When he returned, he was covered in wounds, and the shelter had been almost completely flattened by the strange wind. Only a few trunks stuck in the ground remained, standing alone in the ruins, as if they were the only survivors after the storm, telling the story of the tragedy that had just occurred.

Disbelief and despair flashed in Zhou Chuang's eyes. With trembling hands, he walked step by step toward the almost unrecognizable shelter.

"How could this happen..." Zhou Chuang muttered to himself, his heart filled with resentment and anger.

Today, I first eliminated my only teammate, then tripped and scraped my knee while looking for food, got hit on the head by a coconut, was ganged up on by seagulls who pooped on my head, and was attacked by jellyfish while taking a bath.

Thinking of all these unfortunate events, Zhou Chuang felt as heavy as if he were being crushed by a huge boulder, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Why me of all people?" Zhou Chuang's voice was low and hoarse. Looking at his current disheveled appearance, he felt an unprecedented sense of frustration.

"I want to withdraw from the competition." Zhou Chuang was exhausted, in pain, and hungry. He felt uncomfortable all over. After suffering a series of blows today, his last line of defense had been broken. He felt that there was no need to continue and made the decision to withdraw from the competition.

"Zhou Chuang, are you sure you want to withdraw from the competition?" He Jiong's voice came from a drone near Zhou Chuang, confirming the question.

"I'm sure, absolutely sure, damn it, it would be a miracle if I could keep going like this. It's a Mercury retrograde, a day of bad luck. I'm not getting any good things, and a whole bunch of bad and messy things have come knocking on my door. Nobody is more unlucky than me." After Zhou Chuang announced his withdrawal from the competition, he felt much better.

He kept cursing, as if he wanted to vent all the dissatisfaction and frustration that had accumulated throughout the day.

His eyes stared blankly ahead, devoid of their former determination and brilliance, replaced by a complex mix of weariness and helplessness.

"Zhou Chuang, I understand how you feel right now, but please allow me to remind you that behind every great achievement are countless moments when you want to give up. What you are experiencing now is an indispensable part of the road to success."

"Since you've decided to withdraw from the competition, we respect your decision. The production crew will be picking you up at the beach in half an hour. Please pack your things." He Jiong's voice came through the drone, carrying a hint of barely perceptible gentleness, encouragement, and schadenfreude.