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"Gu, don't worry about him; you need to drink the Antidote quickly."
Xu Hang, whose expression had been dark for a while, reminded him softly. Gu Ze was too focused on talking to Xu Nuan, and his grip on the stretcher relaxed unconsciously, causing most of the weight to rest on Xu Hang's side, making it difficult for him to free a hand to swat away the spiders.
He didn't like spiders either.
"Heh heh."
Gu Ze chuckled lightly at Xu Nuan before adjusting the stretcher again and swiftly moving away from the area with Xu Hang. Once they reached the jungle, they finally had a chance to set down the stretcher. Gu Ze pulled out a bunch of Antidotes and drank them without hesitation.
Xu Nuan was startled by Gu Ze's darkly amused smile, feeling a shiver run down her spine. For a moment, she forgot that Gu Ze's temperament was her fault, but she would definitely remember this weakness.
Although she didn't like spiders, Xu Nuan wasn't afraid of them. She even began to ponder whether she should stash a dead Beautiful Spider in her backpack to pull out later when she and Gu Ze were bickering.
"If we don't hurry and get away from here, we'll be injected with anesthetics and then we really won't be able to move."
Deng Yinyin, who had caught up from behind, tossed out this warning before dragging Xie Huai, who had been injected with anesthetics in one leg, forward. Xie Huai wore a pained expression but couldn't resist Deng Yinyin's commanding presence. Of course, there was also the possibility that he was doing this on purpose.
Thinking about those creepy large spiders and the various kinds that might appear in the jungle, Xu Nuan temporarily abandoned her earlier thought. She quickly ran out of Inferno's encirclement and into the jungle, mimicking others by pulling out several bottles of Antidote and pouring them down her throat.
As everyone was gulping down their Antidotes, Tang Jingshu slowly regained consciousness. He managed to sit up with some effort and looked around in confusion at the others drinking potions.
"What happened to you all? Why are you drinking potions like water?"
Everyone was taken aback; this was the first time Tang Jingshu had spoken to them in such a normal tone since they arrived, even though his words sounded just a bit odd.
"Tang Jingshu, you're awake! Here, you should drink too!"
Deng Yinyin cheerfully handed over several bottles to Tang Jingshu.
Xu Nuan found this scene quite amusing; they looked like patients who knew nothing and could only rely on potions.
Receiving the potion, Tang Jingshu remained bewildered.
"I think my fever has mostly gone down. I don't need to take medicine anymore, right?"
"No, no, this is the Antidote. Those spiders were poisonous, and you might have come into contact with them. Hurry..." Deng Yinyin's words trailed off as she stared wide-eyed at Tang Jingshu, her voice trembling.
"Tang Jingshu... you’re feeling better?"
Looking around, everyone else wore similar expressions of shock.
Xu Nuan, always proactive, brushed past the still-dazed Deng Yinyin and reached out to touch Tang Jingshu's forehead. After comparing it with her own, she still felt uneasy and took off her Tail Ring, adjusting it to thermometer mode before placing it at the nape of Tang Jingshu's neck.
The others stood still, watching Xu Nuan's actions.
After a few minutes, Xu Nuan slowly revealed the numbers on the Tail Ring.
"Thirty-seven point five degrees Celsius. Phew, barely a fever."
Everyone erupted in cheers, their faces lighting up with joy. Tang Jingshu felt embarrassed and kept repeating herself.
"I’m really sorry for causing everyone trouble lately. I’ll do my best from now on."
"Oh come on, no need for such sentimental words. We’ll all be happy just knowing you’re recovering," Deng Yinyin said, unable to stand Tang Jingshu's awkwardness as she pulled her into a hug.
Xu Nuan smiled lightly, her gaze drifting over Tang Jingshu’s still gaunt face before landing on her right leg. Her brows immediately furrowed.
The fever had subsided, but the injury was still unhealed. Tang Jingshu's movements remained limited and could easily become inflamed again, risking another fever and plunging her back into a dire situation.
With that thought in mind, Xu Nuan looked up at Gu Ze only to find him gazing at the scenery.
The evening glow had spread across the western sky, painting it in brilliant hues. The light scattered over the treetops, transforming the jungle into a vibrant tapestry of colors.
"We need to find a safe place to camp," Xu Nuan murmured.
With a pale face yet an elegant smile, Tang Jingshu suddenly turned to Xu Nuan.
"Could you and Deng Yinyin help me walk later? I feel like if I don't get moving soon, this leg of mine will be useless."
Xu Nuan was taken aback, realizing that Tang Jingshu had never seen the worsened condition of her injury. She maintained her composure and spoke calmly.
"Of course, if you need a crutch, I can make one for you."
"That would be wonderful," Tang Jingshu replied with genuine happiness, showing no trace of the gloom that long-term illness could bring. "If you have time later, please help me make one."
Xu Nuan nodded with a smile, suddenly recalling the expression on He Min's face when she first received her crutch—just as joyful, not wallowing in self-pity despite her injury.
However, He Min and Tang Jingshu were very different in temperament.
He Min was gentle, generous, and understanding, yet also remarkably resilient.
In Xu Nuan's memory, Tang Jingshu was gentle too but had a touch of sentimentality and sensitivity. Seeing Tang Jingshu so optimistic now left Xu Nuan feeling somewhat puzzled and uneasy.
Who should she confide this unease to?
After resting for about ten minutes, the group got up and set off again, searching for a place to settle down for the night amidst the twilight.
The twilight jungle took on a more sinister quality; the beams from their flashlights combined with the faint sunlight made everything in the forest seem to sway and flicker, creating an atmosphere ripe for imagination. Even the occasional squirrel darting out startled the already tense group.
Among them, Xie Huai's reactions were the most pronounced, inevitably drawing various scornful looks from Deng Yinyin along with her own startled responses.
Surprisingly calm was the usually timid Tang Jingshu, which caught Xu Nuan's attention repeatedly.
"Nuan, what's wrong?"
Xu Nuan's movements drew Tang Jingshu's gaze.
"Is something off?"
Xu Nuan certainly wouldn’t voice her confusion; she merely smiled awkwardly, unaware of what Tang Jingshu would say next.
"Actually, when I was a bit dazed, I heard your words, Nuan. You're such a gentle person."
Xu Nuan immediately recalled some sentimental words she had said to comfort Tang Jingshu back then, and felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Those words were so unlike her style.
"What did you say?"
Deng Yinyin, who was also supporting Tang Jingshu, asked curiously, "Haven't you all been together this whole time?"
"Nope, but that's a secret."
Tang Jingshu smiled mysteriously, causing Deng Yinyin to pout playfully while Xie Huai kept glancing over at them.
Xu Nuan didn’t think those words were a secret, but if Tang Jingshu were to repeat them in front of so many people, she would be so embarrassed that she would turn and run away.
Xu Nuan secretly felt relieved and scanned the area, hoping to find a place to rest soon. However, as she glanced around, her eyes met Gu Ze's teasing gaze, and her face instantly flushed. She quickly turned her head away and pretended to be seriously observing her surroundings.
As the light gradually dimmed, everyone quickened their search for a resting spot. In the end, Xu Hang decisively announced that they would rest under a large Palm Tree.
This area was close to both the open field and the dense forest, with a good view. Everyone expressed their satisfaction and then began to divide tasks.
As usual, a few men were responsible for setting up tents while several women took on the task of starting a fire and boiling water.
Those who were tired didn’t bother with gourmet food; hot water with compressed biscuits and some Jerky was enough to satisfy their hunger.
After Tang Jingshu finished drinking the hot water she was forced to consume, everyone noticed her complexion gradually improving, which lifted their spirits as well.
After finishing dinner, they gathered around the campfire, casually analyzing their situation.
Xu Nuan struggled to find an opportunity to express her doubts to Gu Ze. She felt slightly anxious as her emotions fluctuated with the dancing flames.
However, she remained silent, quietly listening to the conversations of others while occasionally tossing a piece of wood into the fire.
In the flickering light, everyone's faces appeared shadowy and elusive. As Xu Nuan quietly observed the Flame, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Shaking her head, she soon realized that the strange sensation had vanished.
Am I too tired?
Xu Nuan questioned herself.
At that moment, Deng Yinyin suddenly exclaimed with excitement.
"Look! There's a cute little cat over there!"
The group turned to follow Deng Yinyin's gaze. About a few meters away, perched on a low branch, was a two-colored cat.
The cat was indeed adorable, with its yellow and black fur, large eyes, and small frame that made it look incredibly endearing.
However, in the game, appearances could be deceiving when it came to animals.
Deng Yinyin rushed toward the charming cat, exclaiming how cute it was.
Xu Hang frowned and tried to stop her.
"Deng Yinyin, don’t touch it. That cat might be dangerous."
Feeling increasingly heavy-headed, Xu Nuan nodded in agreement.
But Deng Yinyin, feeling bold and carefree after having eaten well, completely ignored Xu Hang's warning. She insisted on picking up the cat and even laughed as she stroked its fur.
"Meow."
The cat responded sweetly with a soft meow that was quite pleasant to hear.
"See? I'm fine! You all are just overreacting," Deng Yinyin said as she walked back, continuing to pet the little feline.
Seeing that the cat showed no signs of distress, Xu Hang stopped worrying about it. In the end, Tang Jingshu, who also loved cats, couldn't help but lean over to pet it.
"Nuannuan, what's wrong?"
The first to notice Xu Nuan's unusual behavior was Gu Ze. Given that there were two people between them, Gu Ze merely asked without making any inappropriate moves.
"It's nothing," Xu Nuan said, propping up her increasingly heavy head and pointing at the cat in Deng Yinyin's arms. "Isn't this cat afraid of fire?"
Only then did everyone realize that the cat Deng Yinyin had brought back was very close to the fire pit but showed no signs of fear. As all eyes turned to it, the seemingly well-behaved cat suddenly let out a piercing scream.
The sound was chilling, reminiscent of a baby's cry, sending shivers down their spines. Being in the wilderness only amplified their sense of dread.
Unable to bear such a sound, Deng Yinyin tried to cover the cat's mouth but ended up getting scratched on the hand instead. The cat leaped from her arms onto a nearby branch, continuing to emit its haunting cries.
Before anyone could react, they heard a flurry of wingbeats approaching them rapidly.
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