The further they went, the more rugged and difficult the road became. On the one hand, they had no landmarks in the forest and could only rely on the light and shadow of their surroundings. On the other hand, there were too many bushes and thorns, so they had to be very careful not to get scratched.
Jiang Xi felt that they had been walking for about two hours and could clearly feel that the terrain was getting higher.
The surrounding trees became sparser, and there were more dead and fallen logs. More sunlight shone into the forest, and the grass seemed to be covered with a thin veil of mist, and the dew gradually dissipated.
The scent of the forest is no longer as heavy as the previous smell of fallen leaves and decaying wood; it is gradually being replaced by the scent of an oxygen-rich forest.
Jiang Xi felt the presence of the wind, and gradually heard the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The vegetation was much richer than before, and purple and white wildflowers gradually appeared on the ground. Her mood also became much more relaxed.
Yan Zheng wore simple black casual sweatpants and a black knit top, which made him appear even taller and more slender. The path in the jungle was not easy to walk, and fearing that the two of them would get lost, he would cut a cross on a tree with his axe every now and then.
Despite his relentless efforts to clear away the bushes and thorns blocking their path with an axe, both men's trousers were torn in many places by tree branches.
After walking for about three or four more hours, Jiang Xi felt that she had reached her physical limit.
She was wearing two layers of fleece-lined pants. The temperature here was even higher than before, and it got hotter the further they walked into the sunnier areas.
At that moment, she felt as if two sandbags were tied to her legs, making her feel heavier and heavier with each step. The chilblains on her body became itchy and painful due to the high temperature and sweating.
Just as he was about to call Yan Zheng to stop and rest when he saw an open space ahead where they could rest, Yan Zheng suddenly stopped, lowered his waist and stared ahead, adopting a defensive posture, his whole body filled with tension and sharpness.
Yan Zheng placed one hand beside her and gestured for her to be quiet with the other, but his eyes remained fixed on one direction.
Jiang Xi had a bad feeling. She lowered her breathing and listened carefully. After a few seconds, a hissing sound suddenly came from the bushes in front of her.
When she thought back to what Yan Zheng had said earlier, her heart sank suddenly, and she felt a chill run from her feet to the top of her head.
It's a snake.
Following their gaze, three meters diagonally opposite them was a red snake with white stripes. Its head was pointed and flat, its color was bright and its body was shiny. At this moment, its upper body was upright, with a pair of golden eyes raised and its scarlet tongue waving rapidly, as if it was ready to devour them.
Fear caused her adrenaline to surge. Although Jiang Xi was physically present, her mind had already left her body. For the first time, she experienced firsthand the meaning of the idiom "hair stands on end."
Yan Zheng's calm yet deliberately low voice came from the front: "Jiang Xi, slowly back away, watch your step!"
These words calmed her down, and she carefully lifted her stiff legs and moved backward.
Yan Zheng slowly lowered his axe, facing the snake's body, and drew his practice sword from his shoulder, his strong arms taut with the force he was gathering.
The snake on the other side was flicking its tongue faster and faster; it was starting to get impatient.
With another hissing sound, the snakehead lunged straight at Yan Zheng's thigh without hesitation.
Jiang Xi was so frightened that her heart jumped into her throat.
With a sharp sound of a weapon piercing flesh, Yan Zheng's sword struck the snake precisely at its vital point. His movements were clean and swift, and the snake was firmly pinned to the ground by the sword. The snake, however, was still struggling in vain, its mouth wide open as if to attack.
Yan Zheng didn't give it many chances, picking up the axe on the ground and swiftly chopping off the snake's head.
Then came a rustling sound of weeds being swept away, and the snake's head that had been lifted was buried to prevent further injury.
With the snake dealt with and it confirmed that he was unharmed, Jiang Xi's distraught heart finally returned to normal.
She knew he was physically fit, but she didn't know he was also a skilled hunter, with clean, swift, and sharp sword strikes.
Jiang Xi couldn't hold on any longer. She sat down on the grass. After the shock, she felt that her innermost fleece pants were soaked with cold sweat and clung tightly to her body, sticky and cold.
"Let's rest for a while, I can't walk anymore." Her voice was cool and hoarse, even trembling and broken.
Yan Zheng looked at her pathetic appearance and said, "Have you only been studying the classics all these years? Your physical fitness and courage haven't improved at all."
Unlike her disheveled state, he remained calm and composed, unconcerned about this unexpected wilderness escape. He casually lifted his sweater, leaving only a black short-sleeved shirt, the slightly lifted hem revealing clearly defined abdominal muscles, their lines taut and fluid.
Jiang Xi was still in shock from what had just happened, so she was in no mood to appreciate anything. She understood that the man was implying something; he was mocking her.
She couldn't help but think that this man was really petty. It was just a breakup, and he was still being so aggressive after all these years.
Of course, although she felt slightly resentful and wanted to retaliate, she didn't know how to say the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Moreover, bringing up the past now is not very meaningful.
But she wasn't about to be outdone, so she didn't rush to reply. After a moment of silence, she simply retorted, "And you, when did you become a wilderness survival expert?"
She knew the man in front of her all too well: a prodigy whose life had been smooth sailing, a genius fencer on the national team.
Along the way, she was amazed by his extensive wilderness skills. She couldn't see any signs of unfamiliarity or panic when he first entered the jungle; it was as if he belonged there by birth.
My inner doubts lingered: what exactly happened to him in these three years?
The temperature was too high, so she turned around and took off her sweater and trousers, leaving only a close-fitting white undershirt, revealing her deep collarbones and undulating lines.
At this moment, she couldn't care less about men and women; she couldn't be sure if she would have such good luck to escape from a dangerous situation again.
Yan Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed. He turned to the side, lowered his head to tidy his backpack, and said casually, "I joined a wilderness rescue team two years ago." His voice was calm and indifferent.
Jiang Xi stopped what she was doing. The answer was so heavy that she couldn't believe it; she couldn't believe her ears.
"What about fencing? You gave it up?"
She had some tinnitus, felt like she couldn't breathe, and even felt more absurd than ever before. Her hands trembled slightly, and her heart felt like it was blocked by a stone, unable to go up or down.
The man didn't answer, nor did he show any expression on his face, seemingly numb to such questions. He gathered his clothes and put them in his backpack, also taking out some compressed biscuits and water.
He turned around and found that Jiang Xi was still looking at him, as if she was stubbornly forcing him to give an answer.
Yan Zheng gave her a deep look, not avoiding her gaze, a mocking smile appearing on his lips. His tone was slightly agitated, but his words were intriguing: "Is this question important to you?"
Jiang Xi was somewhat confused. These words and choices didn't seem like something this person in front of her would do. It was as if the man in front of her had changed his body.
"I don't understand, why did you give up?" Jiang Xi ignored his question and asked him directly.
She really didn't understand. She knew how much effort Yan Zheng had put into fencing over the past ten years. He was not someone who would back down easily. From childhood to adulthood, whether in academics or fencing, he had never been at a disadvantage. The word "give up" should never have been associated with him.
Yan Zheng's eyes were dark and unfathomable as he stared directly at her.
Jiang Xi didn't shy away from it either, her eyes stubbornly meeting his gaze.
The next moment, however, he suddenly revealed his ruthless side, looking down at her with a disdainful gaze, his tone calm yet icy: "Does it matter if I answer you?"
It was as if they absolutely needed to get an answer.
The man's face was frighteningly grim, his voice like a sharp knife flashing with cold light, and his unfamiliar aura pierced Jiang Xi's heart, making her feel as if she had fallen into an abyss.
She was speechless for a moment, and a voice in her heart told her that this was not Yan Zheng.
She felt unfamiliar and afraid. The tight collar choked her breathing. Jiang Xi just looked at him but couldn't answer. She silently looked at the man in front of her, her wide eyes shimmering with light.
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