Chapter 45: A Reality Show of Survival in the Mist! In Lin Yue's words, ...
In Lin Yue's words, this trip to the Valley of Tears was a suicidal... oops, an adventure for the peace and tranquility of the world, and also to see if we could bring back some new recipes and rare minerals to improve the quality of life in our little restaurant!
Graeme the Silent One, this newly minted hidden master, naturally took on the role of guide and trailblazer. Carrying the iron spear meticulously crafted and reinforced by Uncle Stonefist, he walked at the head of the group, his steps steady, his eyes sharp, radiating a chilling aura that said, "Keep your distance, strangers, and don't get too familiar with acquaintances either." Only when looking at Lin Yue or Xiao Fen did his icy gaze soften even slightly.
Lin Yue followed closely behind, fully utilizing his role as the team's brain and mobile warehouse. He held a newly made charcoal pencil and several processed animal hides as his map and notebook, pausing from time to time to write and draw, recording the surrounding terrain and any unusual flora and fauna he encountered, much like a geography expedition member who had strayed into a primeval forest.
Amu, a strong and honest young man, carried the biggest and heaviest backpack, like a diligent old ox, silently following behind the group, occasionally glancing back warily to make sure there was no tail.
Old hunter Barton, a seasoned wilderness survival master, roamed the flanks of the group like a ghost. His weathered eyes could always keenly spot danger signals hidden in the grass and shadows, or... edible wild vegetables and mushrooms.
As for Xiao Fen, it has now grown into a muscular, fierce-looking... uh... medium-sized husky? Lin Yue: Don't be silly, it's a descendant of the wolf god!
After they left the area of Lin's Restaurant, the further east they went, the more hostile and eerie the surrounding environment became.
The branches of the towering ancient tree twisted like struggling ghost claws, the ground was covered with a thick layer of decaying leaves and moss, and the air was filled with a strange, damp, cold, and faintly sweet-smelling odor.
The sunlight could barely penetrate the dense canopy, making the entire forest appear gloomy and eerie.
"Grey, are you sure we're not on the wrong track?" Lin Yue rubbed his arms, feeling that the temperature around them was several degrees lower than at the restaurant. "This place... doesn't look like it could produce anything good."
Gray didn't turn around, but replied in a muffled voice, "...Valley of Tears...is just ahead...not far." His voice seemed to become even lower because of the oppressive environment.
After walking a while longer, they finally arrived at the outer area of the legendary Valley of Tears of Shiva.
Then, everyone was stunned by what they saw!
Ahead, a vast expanse of thick, milky white mist lay coiled in the valley like a giant beast, completely shrouding the entire valley and obscuring everything inside!
The mist churned and surged, emanating an indescribable, slightly corrosive, and...sweetly cloyingly strange odor. Occasionally, a few rays of sunlight struggled to penetrate the mist, only to be swallowed up without a trace the moment they made contact.
"Holy crap! What is this thing?!" Lin Yue stared dumbfounded at the ethereal mist that looked more like a leak of poison gas. "Is this a biological weapons testing ground?! Or... do elves and Silent Speakers like to live in places with this kind of hazy, beautiful effect?"
[System scan: High concentration of unknown energy mist detected. Main components: water vapor, unknown corrosive particles, trace amounts of hallucinogenic spores, and... an unknown organic gas with strong bio-corrosive properties, produced by the reaction of various waste energy sources.]
[WARNING: Prolonged exposure to this fog may cause skin burns, respiratory infections, mental confusion, and… severe existential doubt. Wearing professional protective equipment is recommended, or proceed as soon as possible.]
Lin Yue: "..." Well, it seems the big shots do have some unique tastes.
"Grey, you Silent Ones... used to live inside this thing?" Lin Yue asked incredulously.
Gray's expression turned grim. He stared intently at the swirling mist, his eyes filled with pain and worry. "...Before...the mist wasn't this thick...and it didn't...smell like this..."
It seems the situation is worse than he imagined! This fog has clearly only recently become so "toxic"! This further confirms his suspicion that something might have happened to the Earth's Lament!
"Then... how do we get in?" Amu's voice trembled as he looked at the fog that seemed like an impenetrable fortress.
Old hunter Barton frowned, took out a piece of dried animal hide from his pocket, and covered his mouth and nose.
Lin Yue took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He was the brain of the team; he couldn't panic!
"Don't be afraid! I'm here!" He patted his chest and then started rummaging through his system inventory.
His eyes lit up quickly!
[Simple Gas Mask Crafting Blueprint (Charcoal Filter Version)]: Can be redeemed for a small amount of points. Using multiple layers of damp cloth and activated charcoal powder (charcoal kiln ash or fully burned wood ash can be used as a substitute), create a simple breathing filter that effectively filters harmful particles and some toxic gases from the air.
"Heaven is helping me!" Lin Yue was overjoyed! Although it was only a simplified version, something was better than nothing!
He immediately used his points to exchange for the blueprints, and then directed everyone to use the materials available to them to start making handmade gas masks!
They found some scraps of fabric left over from Mia's previous sewing, and rummaged through the fire for some burnt charcoal, grinding it into powder. Then, following the instructions in the blueprints, they sandwiched the charcoal powder between multiple layers of damp cloth, and tied it to their faces with vines or animal hide strips, leaving only their eyes exposed.
Although the design is a bit like an otherworldly version of a robber, and it's stuffy to wear, at least you can smell a fresh... charcoal scent.
"Alright! All geared up! Expedition team, onward into the fog!" Lin Yue put on the most presentable-looking gas mask, which he had made himself! With a wave of his hand, he announced with great enthusiasm.
Then... he tripped over a tree root and fell flat on his face.
"..." The crowd.
Xiao Fen licked his mud-covered face with sympathy.
Moving through the fog was much more difficult than Lin Yue had imagined!
Visibility was extremely low, almost pitch black! The road beneath our feet was slippery and muddy, riddled with potholes and obstacles! The cloyingly sweet, corrosive odor in the air could still penetrate our nostrils even with a makeshift gas mask, making us dizzy, nauseous, and wanting to vomit!
[System Notification: Affected by the [Corrosive Mist], stamina consumption rate increased by 20%, mental state continues to decline, and there is a low probability of hallucinations. Please replenish water and energy promptly, and remain alert.]
Lin Yue felt like he was playing blind men and an elephant in a huge sauna full of unknown dangers, and every step he took was terrifying.
Fortunately, they have Gray, the human navigation system, and Finn, the super radar!
Although Gray was also affected by the fog and appeared more agitated, he seemed to possess a vague, blood-related memory of this area. He always managed to point out the right direction at crucial moments, avoiding the seemingly flat but actually treacherous swamps and pits.
Xiao Fen's performance impressed Lin Yue even more!
Its large, black eyes seemed to see through everything in the mist! Sometimes it would crouch low, whimpering a warning, alerting everyone to danger ahead; other times it would wag its tail excitedly, indicating a relatively safe direction. Its sense of smell and hearing had also become exceptionally acute, always able to detect those uninvited guests lurking in the mist ahead of time!
For example, they encountered a giant, swamp worm that looked like an enlarged version of a slug, reeked of a foul odor, and could spray highly acidic venom! If Xiao Fen hadn't given them a warning in advance, allowing them to escape in time, they would probably be a puddle of indescribable protein solution by now!
There's also the Shadowclaw Leopard, adept at silently stalking through dense forests, with claws and teeth as sharp as razors! This creature is practically a born assassin! Several times it stealthily crept up behind them, only to be scared away by Xiao Fen's thunderous howls! Xiao Fen even displayed remarkable fighting prowess, single-handedly ramming a Shadowclaw Leopard that attempted to ambush Amu, sending it flying, then leaving several deep, bone-revealing wounds on its opponent with its sharp claws!
"Holy crap! Xiao Fen!" Lin Yue was dumbfounded. "You're always so cute and cuddly, but I never expected you to be so fierce in a fight! From now on, if anyone dares to call you a husky, I'll be the first to argue with them!"
Old hunter Barton also praised Little Finn's performance: "This little wolf cub... is amazing! He's more clever and fiercer than the best hunting dog I've ever owned!"
Led by Gray and Finn, the expedition team trudged through the fog as if dancing on a knife's edge.
Lin Yue's engineering knowledge and system assistance also played a crucial role at critical moments. For example, when they encountered a swift-flowing stream that had been washed away by a flash flood, he directed everyone to quickly build a simple log bridge using the surrounding trees and vines, successfully crossing the ditch. When choosing temporary campsites, he was also able to find relatively safe, secluded locations that avoided the densest fog, based on the terrain and wind direction.
The veteran hunter Barton's wilderness survival experience was indispensable. He could accurately identify which plants were poisonous, which could be eaten in small quantities, and which could be used to make insect repellent fumigants. He also taught everyone how to quickly start a fire in damp conditions. Of course, the arduous journey wouldn't be complete without Lin Yue's ever-present energy of witty remarks:
"Who was the scoundrel who designed this road? It's so winding and full of potholes!"
"Xiao Fen! How many times have I told you! Don't lick mushrooms off the ground! What if you eat one and suddenly transform into Super Mario?!"
When setting up camp at night, Lin Yue would try his best to prepare some hot food for everyone.
Despite limited resources, and the fact that he could only eat hard dried potatoes and dried meat strips most of the time, he still tried to find ways to improve his meals.
For example, soak dried potatoes in hot water until soft, add some collected non-toxic wild vegetables and a small amount of dried meat, sprinkle with some precious salt and fragrant pine needle powder, and simmer into a pot of steaming hot and fragrant "Mist Survival Special Edition" wild vegetable and dried meat porridge.
Alternatively, you can roast the chewy but starchy root of a plant that the old hunter Patton identified over a fire until the outer skin is crispy and the inside is soft and chewy. Sprinkle some salt on it, and it will have a unique flavor.
Occasionally, Xiao Fen, with her excellent hunting skills, could catch some small prey, such as a kind of wood pigeon with feathers that shimmered like metal. Lin Yue would cook it in the simplest way, roasting it directly over a fire and sprinkling it with salt and his own spice powder. Although it was rudimentary, in such harsh conditions, being able to eat a bite of fresh roasted meat was already a great treat!
The closer Gray got to the core of the Valley of Tears, the more unstable his emotions became. He became more taciturn, and his eyes grew more anxious. His special senses grew stronger; he could clearly feel that the concentration of the "curse" in certain areas was particularly high, causing them to detour; he could also vaguely sense the direction where his people might be, and... a terrifying aura that was awakening, sending chills down his spine!
The expedition team, like a small boat struggling to navigate a sea of mist, slowly but surely approached the unknown Valley of Shivar Tears, a place fraught with danger and secrets.
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