Chapter 23
After taking care of the funeral, their most important task now was to find the energy stone. Therefore, apart from those responsible for daily work and those who stayed behind at Jiao Garden, everyone else joined the search for the energy stone.
If you have no experience, just follow along and learn. Besides, given the characteristics of the energy stone, the chances of finding it are higher than relying on luck. There's strength in numbers, so let's hope for some luck as we go.
"You have to be lucky to find an energy stone. I think I'm pretty lucky, but I haven't found one on this journey." Yao Si said as his eyes continued to dart around. When looking for something, you have to keep your eyes and ears open.
"But I heard that if you tell it out loud, your good luck will be gone." Ji Wenxue continued to look left and right.
Ying Zhao was puzzled. "Although I have never looked for energy stones, I think as long as it is an objectively existing substance, it can be found based on its characteristics or some method." This is her idea about everything in the universe.
Jiang Zouwei disagreed but kept silent. She generally didn't like discussing these kinds of opinions with others. But she would remember other people's opinions and habits.
Wandi ignored the conversation in her ear as background noise. Besides finding the energy stone, she was also concerned about who to partner with, who to sell it to, how much to sell it for, and whether it would require processing. Each of these questions was crucial to their future. She wouldn't allow even a single mistake.
"But the scenery here is really beautiful. I've always been near the base, but I only heard the sisters mention it occasionally, and I've never been here." Ji Wenxue couldn't help but sigh at the scenery in front of her. She just followed everyone and trampled out a path through the weeds, which made her feel very happy.
Ying Zhao nodded in agreement. She had rarely been outside before. During her time on the run, she was so nervous and overwhelmed that she hadn't had time to appreciate the scenery. Now, as things gradually improved, she felt much more relaxed. It was also because of this that she discovered the beauty of nature that she had never noticed before.
"Yeah, I told you this place is great, and I've caught pheasants here many times before. Oh, and remember that egg, right?" Yao Si would run out as soon as she got the chance, no matter what the situation. She had basically gone to every place here that could be visited.
"Of course I remember. You threw me into the water just for the eggs. I will remember it for the rest of my life!" Ji Wenxue responded immediately, thinking back to the day before.
Yao Si felt a little embarrassed when he heard this, and he chuckled and said, "It was an accident, I know I was wrong! But what I want to say is that I picked up the egg nearby." Unfortunately, the egg did not survive the flood. Yao Si later buried the egg near their Jiaoyuan tree house, thinking that at least she would keep it as a remembrance.
"So, there should be a lot of animals here. We might accidentally walk into someone's territory while walking, and snakes, tigers, wild boars, etc. might come out to attack us?" Ying Zhao asked. Although she was a doctor with a knife, it was too difficult for her to fight animals, especially wild beasts.
"Should be..." No way, Yao Si was still struggling to finish his words when he heard a firm answer from the other side.
"Yes." Jiang Zouwei still looked around vigilantly and gave everyone an affirmative answer.
Wandi also spoke up, "The closer you get, the more creatures there will be. Everyone, please be careful not to wander around and stay behind me. If you see anything unusual, don't panic or take action. Tell me first."
Everyone nodded obediently and immediately followed Wan Di like elementary school students on a spring outing, with Jiang Zouwei bringing up the rear.
The deeper we went into the forest, the taller the trees became, almost blocking out the sun. This was a tropical rainforest teeming with danger and mystery. Everyone became more cautious, marveling at the wonders of nature while also remaining in awe.
"It's so quiet here," Yao Si whispered. Although the silence made it easier for them to hear what was going on around them, it was also too quiet to be scary.
"I feel like I dare not breathe. Every time I lift my feet, I want to hold my breath." Ji Wenxue deeply agrees. She doesn't often come to places like this, and everywhere feels unfamiliar.
"Don't be too nervous, relax a little, this area is generally safe. We still have to walk a little further before we can cross the edge and get closer to the center."
Wandi's words made everyone feel much more relaxed, and they no longer had to tiptoe when walking.
"It's indeed much more comfortable to walk like this. Just now, when I was hunching over, I felt very sneaky." Ying Zhao thought about it and felt that his behavior just now was very funny.
Everyone laughed at this. After walking for an unknown amount of time, it was already dark, and everyone asked Wandi what she was planning.
"Let's find a place to rest here tonight. After we're well rested, we'll go straight ahead. It's not worth going back." Wandi made the decision immediately. It is certainly not easy to find precious things. They have come all the way here, so of course they can't give up halfway.
Spending the night in the rainforest?
It sounds like a fun experience! Everyone looked around eagerly, hoping to find a place to rest as soon as possible.
As it was night, the moonlight could only penetrate through the gaps between the tall and dense trees, making it more difficult to see the surrounding environment clearly.
"Okay, let's do it here." Wandi quickly jumped over a big tree root. There was a large flat area behind it, which was perfect for a temporary rest.
Everyone followed Wandi's lead, arriving at the location and surveying their surroundings. The twisting branches of the rainforest at night seemed like some sinister arm, lurking in the shadows, watching them. Due to the unique timing, everyone simply ate a quick bite and prepared for the next day's search.
"Everyone will rest for four hours and keep watch for one hour. After the time is up, we will act separately according to the previous plan. Remember to come back within the specified time and do not act rashly under any circumstances." Wan Di quickly planned everyone's actions.
"clear!"
Everyone has his or her own area of responsibility. Based on personal characteristics and local differences, Wan Di and Jiang Zouwei went deep into the most dangerous central area, while the others basically explored nearby.
The first person to take the night watch was Jiang Zouwei. Practice made perfect for her. The secret to ensuring the success of every mission was to remain vigilant at all times.
Jiang Zouwei's eyes in the middle of the night were like those of a lioness or a cheetah, slowly patrolling her territory. She seemed to be searching for something, though she wasn't really interested in it. However, since Wandi and everyone else needed it, she would do it earnestly.
Smelling the scent of soil and leaves in the wild, Jiang Zouwei suddenly remembered their tree house, which had her own room. It was not very big and had just been renovated a few days ago, so it was a mess, but she still liked it very much.
When she occasionally frees herself up, she'll ponder: "The wall by the window looks so empty. Should I add something to it? Should I make the bed softer? Should I keep my exercise room indoors or outside?" These are all very sweet worries for her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zouwei turned around to see everyone's situation. Everyone closed their eyes quietly, seizing the hard-earned opportunity to rest and quickly recover their strength.
Jiang Zouwei's eyes swept over everyone gently. She never liked to express herself, but she was deeply moved by the deep friendship they had built by sharing life and death.
I let my mind run wild and thought for a while, and then it was time to change shifts.
Everyone cooperated well and got up at the appointed time. They formed a circle, clenched their fists, stretched them out and touched them together.
"Come on, we will definitely be able to find the energy stone successfully!"
After encouraging each other, everyone went their separate ways.
Yao Si was so excited she almost couldn't sleep the whole night before. Exploring the rainforest alone—wasn't that the kind of person she'd admired as a child? She had never imagined she'd find herself like that one day.
She mentally repeated the characteristics of the Energy Stone several times, along with Wan Di's instructions to everyone before they set out. She desperately wanted to find the Energy Stone. On the one hand, it was crucial to their future, but on the other, Yao Si had a selfish motive: she wanted Wan Di, everyone else, to see how powerful and useful she was.
She needs a chance to prove herself, and isn't this action a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
But it seemed like the more he wanted something, the less he got. Yao Si's eyes were almost blinded, and he kept racking his brains to think along the way, but in the end, he found nothing and could only sigh as he went back.
"Sister Ying Zhao, Sister Zou Wei, haven't Wan Di and Wen Xue returned yet?"
Jiang Zouwei nodded. "Wandi sent a message half an hour ago saying that she had found a suspicious object and was tracking it, so she would be back later. As for Wenxue," Jiang Zouwei couldn't help but frowned as he spoke, "she should have been back by now."
Three hours later, there were still only three people at the agreed location.
Dusk descended in anticipation, a warm, mysterious light filtering through the trees, tinting the edges of leaves and blades of grass with gold. The distant water shimmered in the light. Mist crept in, obscuring everyone's view of the distance.
The lush, verdant forest reached its peak of beauty at this moment, yet it made people feel even more uneasy, as if a beautiful net was about to catch them. And there was still no news of their companions.
It was quiet, with only the sound of running water and the occasional falling leaves. Jiang Zouwei pulled the two stunned people behind her.
Suddenly, a sound came from the pond over there: the crisp sound of water dripping. After a while, the slow and rhythmic sound of water dripping disappeared, replaced by the sound of the water being stirred. As the sound accompanied the sound, everyone saw a figure slowly rising in the misty water.
The black silhouette slowly approached them, like a monster in the water, or an underwater elf.
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