Chapter 3: Saving Someone "System, save me!!"...
The midday sun blazed down on the earth like fire, and Wen Yu, who was climbing the mountain, nearly fainted from the heat.
Unfortunately, the trees on the mountain were almost all dead, with sparse and yellowed leaves, offering her no shade whatsoever.
The rocks were exposed, and dust swirled everywhere; even the Flaming Mountains mentioned in the books of my past life were nothing compared to this.
There were no insects chirping, no birds singing, and apart from the rustling of leaves as the heatwave swept by, the entire mountain was deathly silent, as if forgotten by the world.
Wen Yu originally didn't want to go up the mountain in the midday sun, but then she thought that if she had to wait until the sun went down, who knew what wild animals might appear on the mountain? At that time, she wouldn't even be able to see the road clearly, let alone escape.
In comparison, climbing the mountain during the day, though difficult, is safer.
She leaned on her hoe, each step she took was extremely difficult.
Five miles, in her previous life, was nothing more than a workout on the treadmill at the gym.
For Wen Yu, a female celebrity who has always paid close attention to her figure, this is nothing at all.
But now, tormented by extreme hunger and heat, those five miles had become an insurmountable chasm in front of her.
I really want to drink water...
Holding the earthenware jar filled with water, Wen Yu, whose mind was spinning from the scorching sun, suddenly felt a surge of impulse.
There's still more than half a can left, so maybe... it wouldn't hurt to drink some?
But the next second, she dismissed the idea.
There are still about three days left until the mission ends. If I drink all the water now to cool off, what will I do later?
Let's take it one step at a time.
Seeing that she had started a new level, the number of viewers in the live stream gradually increased to five thousand.
Wen Yu's reputation was already infamous, but many people still came hoping to see her make a fool of herself.
[It's starting! The tearful hiking drama is about to begin!]
[Has Wen Yu gone mad? Going up the mountain at a time like this? Is there some treasure up there that he can dig up?]
[Haven't you read farming novels? At this point, she'd probably be going up the mountain to dig up some treasure to sell in the city. But judging from her current situation, I doubt she'd even be able to survive...]
Friends, I bet she'll "accidentally" find a water source in ten minutes. I've seen this kind of script too many times; I know how she's going to act with my eyes closed.
Wen Yu had no time to pay attention to the mockery in the comments, focusing only on identifying the path beneath her feet.
To avoid getting lost, she also marked the ground along the way with a small stick, and following the marks, she could find the way down the mountain.
I don't know how long we walked, but the sun began to set in the west, yet the heat showed no signs of abating.
Suddenly, she smelled a faint scent of blood.
She frowned instinctively and looked in the direction of the bloody smell. In a corner at the foot of the rock wall, she saw what appeared to be a tattered rag curled up.
The comments section suddenly got lively.
【Huh? What's that?】
[An extra has appeared? What role is he playing this time, a beggar?]
[Where did these beggars come from on the mountain? Couldn't they at least make some sense?]
I bet the next step will be for this random passerby to lead Wen Yu to a water source; otherwise, I'll eat it upside down ( )
Wen Yu's heart skipped a beat.
She gripped the hoe tightly and cautiously approached the rag.
The rag twitched slightly and let out a weak groan, sounding as if it were on its last breath.
It's a human!
Wen Yu took a few steps closer and found that the person lying there was a thin, bony boy.
He huddled in the shadow of the rock wall, his tattered clothes, almost unrecognizable in their original color, covered in dust and mud.
His eyes were closed, his lips were dry and white, and only the very faint rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive.
What's even more shocking is that there are several bite marks on his hands, with white edges and no longer any blood seeping out.
Wen Yu instantly realized that this boy would even bite his finger and drink his own blood to survive in order to slow down his death.
"Are you still conscious?" Wen Yu squatted down and patted his shoulder, then reached out to check his breathing.
The boy showed no reaction and his breathing was weak; she was constantly worried that he would suddenly die.
The viewers in the live stream were shocked.
[My God, is there really someone dying here? His lips are so white, he doesn't look like he's acting...]
Don't take the plot too seriously; it's mostly just high-level makeup. Who would use real patients in a movie?
[The props team is amazing! The makeup on this random passerby looks so real, even sickly!]
At this point, some people genuinely became involved in the story and began to notice the direction of the "plot".
[Wen Yu, hurry up and run! Don't meddle in other people's business. You only have so little food and water on you. If you try to save them, you'll die yourself.]
These words immediately drew a barrage of sarcastic remarks.
[Why is the person upstairs so emotional? It's definitely scripted. Let's wait and see how this "little beggar" repays her kindness by taking her to find water.]
Exactly! How could a female celebrity put herself in danger? It's all just part of the plot.
Wen Yu felt a sharp pang in her heart when she saw the boy's half-dead state.
In this famine year, human life is as worthless as grass.
Who knows which gust of wind will blow by, and life will vanish like dust.
She touched the cloth bag in her arms.
She only ate a third of the multigrain pancake the system gave her; the rest she saved as a lifesaver if she really couldn't hold on any longer.
Almost without hesitation, Wen Yu broke off a piece of the mixed grain cake, soaked it in water from the earthenware jar, carefully pried open the boy's chapped lips, and stuffed the now soft and moist cake into his mouth little by little.
Regardless, if they can eat something, the chances of them surviving are higher.
The boy seemed to sense the smell of food, and his survival instinct made him unconsciously begin to swallow with difficulty.
Wen Yu patiently fed him little by little until she had finished all the cakes in her hand, and then picked up the earthenware pot and fed him a few sips of water.
After doing all this, Wen Yu leaned against the rock wall, feeling completely exhausted. Looking at the bottom of the jar with only a little water left, he gave a bitter smile.
If she really can't be saved, then she'll have to survive on this little bit of water for the next three days.
The system suddenly rang in her ear.
[Ding! Detected host rescuing a dying life (A Yue), triggering a "Good Deed" assessment. Reward: Backpack space increased to one cubic meter.]
Backpack space?
Wen Yu was taken aback, her mind filled with mixed feelings.
The reward was useful, but at this moment, it was far less tangible for her than a sip of water.
[By the way, host, the backpack space can only store non-living matter.]
The system prompted again.
What do you mean? Are you afraid she'll put this grown person inside?
Wen Yu almost laughed out of anger.
After a long while, the boy A-Yue's eyelids finally twitched a few times and he slowly opened them.
His eyes were somewhat vacant from just waking up. He looked at Wen Yu blankly, then looked around, as if it took a lot of effort to confirm that he was still alive.
“Water…” His chapped lips moved, and a faint breath escaped his throat.
Wen Yu pointed to the earthenware pot in her hand: "I just fed you half of the cake, and now there's only a little left. Do you really want to drink it?"
The boy's gaze fell on the empty can, then on Wen Yu's equally chapped lips. He seemed to understand something, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.
He struggled to sit up, but the movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to gasp in pain.
"Don't move!" Wen Yu pressed him down. "Where are you hurt?"
A Yue shook his head and pointed with difficulty to his legs and arms, where there were several shallow abrasions. They were obviously not very serious; he had mainly fainted because he was too weak from hunger.
“Wolves, chasing me… I fell down…” he said haltingly, his eyes still filled with the fear of surviving a close call.
Wolf!
There was indeed danger.
Wen Yu's heart sank.
"Do you know where there's water around here?" Wen Yu asked, clinging to her last shred of hope.
The system indicated that the water source was nearby, but its exact location was unknown.
She suddenly felt a little silly. A-Yue was so thirsty, how could he know where there was water?
Ah Yue paused for a moment, as if recalling something.
Finally, he laboriously raised his hand and pointed in a direction deep in the mountains, his voice hoarse: "There's dampness in the cracks of the rocks over there; there used to be a spring. But now... it seems dirty."
There's a spring! Wen Yu's spirits lifted.
But he said...it was dirty?
Could it be that there has been pollution?
Guided by A Yue, Wen Yu helped him and they moved with difficulty to the depths of the rock wall.
Sure enough, at the bottom of a huge rock crevice, a small pool of water could be seen, reflecting a murky light.
There really is water.
But the water in that pool was a murky yellowish-brown color, and unidentified insect corpses were floating on the surface.
If you get close, you can smell a faint stench; I wonder if some animals drowned in it before.
The live streamers started complaining.
【Holy crap, is this water even drinkable?】
[Where did this toilet water come from? Help! If she can drink this, I have to call her a real woman.]
Let's find another one; this one is clearly no good. They'd all die from poisoning after drinking it...
Look at Wen Yu's expression, I'm dying of laughter...
Wen Yu looked at the pool of dirty water and felt a chill run down his spine.
Is this the water source the system was referring to?
If you drink that, you'll probably just collapse on the floor...
The system finally took pity on us and spoke.
[Ding! Water source detected. Initial mission complete. A basic water purification device has been delivered to the system space. Please manually operate the purification system.]
With a thought, Wen Yu produced a small wooden device the size of a palm in her hand.
The system also thoughtfully includes a wooden spoon.
The electronic voice continued: "Please scoop the contaminated water into the top for slow filtration. The container below can collect purified water. The core filter media is disposable, and the estimated total purification capacity is approximately 5 liters."
Never mind, I'll give it a shot.
Wen Yu immediately grabbed a wooden ladle and carefully scooped up half a ladle of dirty water from a relatively clean spot in the pool, then poured it into the filter screen on top of the water purification device.
The murky water slowly seeped through the layers of filter media, very slowly.
Based on her initial identification, the filter material appears to be activated carbon, cotton paper, and sand, which her teacher had taught her about in biology class before.
Perhaps in the future, she will be able to replicate some similar equipment herself.
Wen Yu held her breath and stared.
Finally, a few clear drops of water dripped down from the small hole at the bottom of the device!
It's done!
Wen Yu quickly moved the earthenware pot down to collect the water.
Clear water droplets gathered into a trickle and fell into the jar, the melodious tinkling sound like heavenly music to the ears of the two extremely thirsty people.
A-Yue's eyes widened as he stared intently at the dripping water, his throat bobbing uncontrollably, as if he were witnessing a miracle.
After filling about half a jar, Wen Yu stopped.
She carefully smelled the water; it had no strange odor and she couldn't see any impurities. It was indeed water filtered through many layers; the system seemed quite effective.
She glanced at A-Yue's longing eyes and handed him the earthenware pot without hesitation: "Drink."
A Yue was stunned. He looked at Wen Yu, then at the jar of clear water. His lips trembled violently, and his eyes instantly reddened.
He suddenly lowered his head and began to swallow large gulps of water, which flowed down his chapped lips without him noticing.
"Drink slowly, don't choke..." Wen Yu said softly.
Ah Yue drank almost half a can of water in one go before coughing violently, but his energy and spirit visibly recovered a little.
He raised his head, his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you, my benefactor... for saving me twice."
"My name is Wen Yu." Wen Yu smiled, picked up the water and drank it down himself, finally quenching his thirst temporarily.
With the mindset that nothing should be wasted, she filled the earthenware pot, and then, with a thought, put it into the newly acquired backpack space.
Seeing a jar of clear water quietly stored in the space, she finally felt at ease.
As A-Yue watched the water jug vanish into thin air, his gaze toward Wen Yu became even more awe-inspiring.
"We have to go down the mountain." Wen Yu looked at the setting sun; the nights in the mountains would be colder and more dangerous.
She asked tentatively, "Are you still able to walk? Where do you live?"
When A-Yue heard the word "home," his body trembled violently.
He lowered his head, his thin shoulders trembling violently, and he began to sob uncontrollably.
“Gone…” He looked up, tears mingling with the dust on his face as they streamed down. “Father, Mother, they were all eaten by wolves, right at our doorstep…”
"I got separated from my younger sister that day, and I've never seen her since. I don't know if she's still alive..."
Wen Yu silently reached out and gently patted A Yue's thin, bony shoulder.
"Then, would you like to come down the mountain with me? I still have a dilapidated house over there." Her voice was very soft.
A Yue suddenly looked up, her tears flowing even more profusely.
He nodded vigorously and struggled to his feet: "I can walk, I'll lead the way! I know an easier route!"
In his eyes, besides gratitude, there was also a kind of almost devout dependence.
The two supported each other as they descended a more secluded mountain path, as pointed out by A-Yue.
Although A Yue was weak, he was very familiar with the terrain and was much faster than when Wen Yu went up the mountain alone.
The setting sun cast long shadows of them.
The tone of the comments in the live stream has begun to subtly shift:
This kid's acting is so realistic! I felt a little sad when he cried.
He said his whole family was eaten by wolves; if this wasn't scripted, it would be too tragic...
Am I the only one who noticed that his sister's fate is unknown? I have a feeling there will be a side story later on...
There are still some people who are determined to expose Wen Yu's "acting skills".
Wen Yu actually drank that purified water? I certainly wouldn't dare drink it myself.
[What are you thinking? She's a female celebrity, how could she drink dirty water? Her team must have secretly switched the water.]
However, I didn't see a third person appear in the panoramic shot either...
However, before they could reach a conclusion, a sudden change occurred.
"Awooo—"
A mournful, long howl of a wolf rang out from afar, breaking the silence of the mountains and forests.
Then, a second, a third... a series of wolf howls came from the hillside behind them.
A-Yue's face turned deathly pale: "Wolves! A pack of wolves! Run!"
Wen Yu's heart jumped into her throat instantly.
She turned around abruptly and saw several lithe gray figures darting out from the withered grass on the hillside behind her, their bright green eyes fixed on the two of them.
They were thin and obviously starving, baring their white fangs as they pounced on them.
"Run!" Wen Yu shouted, grabbed A Yue, and rushed down the mountain as fast as she could!
But how can a two-legged person outrun a four-legged hungry wolf?
The wolf pack was incredibly fast, closing in in the blink of an eye.
Running at the front, the largest wolf used its hind legs to push off the ground, leaped into the air, opened its blood-red maw, and with a stench, pounced straight at Wen Yu's back!
"Be careful, my benefactor!" A-Yue cried out in alarm.
At the critical moment of life and death, Wen Yu unleashed unprecedented power, shoving A Yue aside and using the force to roll to the other side.
The gray wolf's claws grazed her back, bringing a burning pain.
She fell heavily to the ground, and the broken hoe she was holding flew out of her hand!
The live stream audience was stunned; the number of viewers jumped to 10,000 in an instant.
Holy crap! A wolf, it really is a wolf!
[Was this generated by AI? Surely female celebrities these days wouldn't really go to such lengths, putting themselves in this situation just for a publicity stunt?]
[Look at Wen Yu's back! His clothes are torn and he's bleeding!]
[Oh no, how are those two going to deal with these wolves? This filming location doesn't look like a wildlife park; they probably didn't actually film in some remote, desolate place, did they?]
[Still putting on a show? This guy's risking his life! Where's the cameraman? Where's the crew? Help!]
The gray wolf missed its first attack, landed without pausing, let out a low growl, and turned around again.
Its green eyes were fixed on the fallen Wen Yu, its fangs bared, its hind leg muscles tensed, and it was about to launch a second, fatal attack.
Wen Yu was unarmed at this moment, his back was still burning with pain, and his mind went blank after the fall. His body instinctively wanted to stand up and run away, but he could not even move a finger!
"roll!!!"
A piercing roar came from the side!
Just as the wolf was about to pounce on Wen Yu, a small, thin figure, with a resolute and fierce spirit, suddenly leaped over.
It's A-Yue!
He picked up the hoe that Wen Yu had dropped without anyone noticing, swung it high with all his might, and smashed it hard on the gray wolf's head!
"Awoo!"
Caught off guard, the alpha wolf was knocked to the ground by this desperate blow, letting out a miserable howl in agony.
Seeing their leader beaten, the wolves behind them grew even more vengeful, baring their fangs and letting out threatening growls.
A-Yue gripped the blood-stained hoe tightly with both hands, his thin body trembling violently with fear, yet he stood firmly in front of Wen Yu, shouting hoarsely, "Don't hurt her!!"
The live stream chat was flooded with comments.
【Ah Yue! Well done!】
[How old is this kid? He looks only thirteen or fourteen, he's really going all out!]
[No, is it real or fake? I can't tell anymore...]
My palms were sweating while watching this; even martial arts movies weren't this tense.
[Is Wen Yu alright? Get up quickly!]
Driven by the instinct for survival, Wen Yu endured the excruciating pain in her back and scrambled to her feet.
However, the alpha wolf's obstruction did not deter the pack.
They approached step by step, as if they were about to launch an attack at any moment.
A-Yue's hand holding the hoe trembled even more violently.
It's over.
Wen Yu's heart sank to the bottom.
Even though they managed to buy some time, they were still too outnumbered and outmatched. The two of them had no weapons to fight back, and once the wolf pack launched their attack, they would have no chance of escaping!
"System, please help me!!" Wen Yu cried out in his heart.
But the system was completely unresponsive, as if it were dead.
The wolves growled, and the night wind blew.
Both sides could hear each other's breathing.
At this critical moment—
"Get out of here! You beast!"
Several angry shouts came from not far away!
Immediately afterwards, the flickering firelight illuminated the dark forest.
When Wen Yu turned around, she saw several villagers, led by Aunt Wang, rushing towards her with burning torches in their hands and machetes and hoes in their hands!
The firelight illuminated their faces, and suddenly her eyes welled up with tears.
The villagers came to rescue her!
The villagers raised torches and shouted, "It's a wolf! Kill the wolf!"
"Protect Wen girl!"
Fire, the most primitive and effective weapon for driving away animals.
The instinctive fear of fire instantly overwhelmed the wolves' ferocity.
Startled by the sudden flashes of fire and shouts, the alpha wolf took a step back and growled warily.
"Get out!" Granny Wang used all her strength to wave the torch in her hand forward.
Sparks crackled and flew as the alpha wolf growled reluctantly, seemingly weighing the value of fighting them.
Finally, it let out a short howl, then abruptly turned and darted into the withered grass with the wolves behind it, disappearing from sight.
The crisis has been temporarily averted.
A Yue's tense nerves suddenly relaxed.
His legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground, the hoe in his hand falling to the ground with a clatter, his whole body soaked in cold sweat.
The wounds on Wen Yu's back, where the wolf's claws had scratched, stung terribly, but at that moment, she felt mostly gratitude for surviving such a close call.
"Thank you!" She looked at the villagers who had descended like divine warriors, their voices choked with emotion.
Aunt Wang, leaning on her cane, hurried to Wen Yu's side, her eyes filled with lingering fear: "Girl, are you alright? Oh dear! Let me see your back!"
By the firelight, she saw several bloody scratches on Wen Yu's back caused by wolf claws, and her heart ached so much that she gasped.
"I'm fine, ma'am, just some minor injuries." Wen Yu shook her head, then looked at A Yue, who was slumped on the ground, "Thanks to A Yue, he saved me."
Only then did the villagers notice the unfamiliar boy.
Looking at A-Yue's pale face, Aunt Wang sighed, "He's a child with a tragic fate."
"Let's go down the mountain first. This isn't the place to talk. The wolf pack might still be lurking around!"
With the help of the villagers, Wen Yu and A Yue supported each other and followed the torchbearers down the mountain, their steps uneven.
The firelight dispelled the darkness and the fear.
The live stream room had completely exploded:
[My God, the villagers really came to the rescue!]
[It was Granny Wang who brought them, all because Wen Yu had given her a bowl of water! I'm about to cry, a bowl of water for a life!]
Ah Yue was too brave just now. That pounce on the wolf almost scared my heart out of my chest...
[Those who previously accused it of being a publicity stunt, come out and show yourselves! Did you see? Wen Yu's back is really bleeding!]
No, after watching today's episode, I feel like I want to become a neutral observer. I criticized her too harshly before, but now it seems unnecessary...
A note from the author:
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The first three chapters were written for the visa application, so the synopsis isn't really there yet, but it'll get better later! [Please!]
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