Chapter 198: Strike First
Kuang Kuang Kuang held the bow and arrow in hand, striking first. As soon as entering the instance, they shot an arrow at Great Luck Chariot God.
Great Luck Chariot God was also on guard against them. Seeing Kuang Kuang Kuang raise their hand to draw the bow, they turned and ran behind the tree, their posture a bit awkward, and they even tripped over vines on the way.
The arrow tip almost grazed their ear as it flew past. The teammate behind who reacted slowly took an arrow to the arm.
Kuang Kuang Kuang showed no intention of stopping, pulling out another arrow, with the posture of piercing their skull as soon as they dared to show their head.
Great Luck Chariot God hurriedly said “go” to their companions, and the few of them hurriedly ran out of bow and arrow range using vegetation for cover.
Yu Jiang’s Team stood in place without chasing. Their goal was precisely to force the other side to leave.
The other team was still there. What mattered was the instance mission, not wasting energy on Great Luck Chariot God and giving others the opportunity to pick up bargains.
Rather than guarding against Great Luck Chariot God’s petty tricks all the way, it was better to go their separate ways from the start.
Solve the mission first, then deal with people, or handle both at the same time.
The climate in the rainforest meant it wouldn’t get cold even when raining, only feeling sticky and uncomfortable.
There was no poisonous fog in the instance, but the stifling smell from decaying organic matter, mixed with the odors of various plants and animal feces, all came out when soaked by rainwater.
Yu Jiang quickly put on the raincoat and hat, then looked toward the other team.
The leading man was Player 6, around thirty years old, wearing half-new clothes. Meeting Yu Jiang’s team’s gaze, he immediately raised his hands, indicating they meant no harm.
“We don’t even know which direction to go now. The rainforest environment is too complex. How about teaming up? Our destinations are the same anyway, and our team has an alchemist, so we won’t hold you back.”
They had also heard of Great Luck Chariot God. They felt the other team was more trustworthy. Of course, teaming up was teaming up, but if the other team fought with Great Luck Chariot God, they wouldn’t get involved.
“The road is right here, anyone can walk it. You can follow behind if you want. But I’m warning you upfront: if you have any funny ideas, we won’t hold back.” Yu Jiang said this.
True cooperation meant everyone going together was fine, with the same goal, but they also had to share the dangers encountered on the way. Yu Jiang wouldn’t tank damage for them.
Besides, being able to cooperate was better than 5 people assisting Great Luck Chariot God.
The instance required leaving the crisis-ridden deep rainforest within 3 days, with no system map, and the compass was useless here.
Yu Jiang had tried it; as soon as she took out her compass, the needle spun wildly, and the light screen displayed: Unable to use.
They could only find the way themselves.
Rain was falling steadily. The soft soil, murky water was cold, and in the crevices of dark old bark, you wouldn’t notice at first glance, but looking closely, it was all insects.
It felt like there was no place to even step, making walking even harder. Branches and vines were everywhere; who could tell which was which.
Their outdoor waterproof hiking boots weren’t hiking rain boots, not 100% waterproof. After a while, the shoes would get wet inside, and the soles would stick with a layer of soil, getting heavier the further they went.
They found a spot under a tree to shelter from the rain, planning to discuss the plan first before moving.
Yu Jiang used pyrethrum, so the teammates weren’t bitten by poisonous insects. Otherwise, standing in a place like this, within ten minutes, they could get several big bites on their bodies.
“Which way?” Yu Jiang looked at Han Jiang Gu Ying, asking with her eyes if they had any ideas.
“I just checked the surrounding terrain. There should be a river nearby. How about following the river to find clues? That way, it’s harder to get lost in the forest.”
There were no useful landmarks in the dense forest. Finding a river was the best method. If not, making a wooden raft was better than wandering aimlessly in the forest.
“That’s what I think too.” Shi Xu nodded.
Yu Jiang: “Alright, finding the way will rely on you all. I’ll follow behind picking up some supplies, neither side delayed.”
The team had people with rich outdoor experience. Let professionals handle professional matters. Han Jiang Gu Ying was a hunter, able to judge many things from subtle scents in the air and traces of animal activity on the ground.
“Do we wait for the rain to stop, or head out now?” Kuang Kuang Kuang looked at the raindrops constantly dripping from the edges of the leaves.
The rain was really coming down hard now; even with dense leaves overhead, it couldn’t block much.
“It’s almost 10 a.m. While everyone still has stamina, better to set off early. Later, when stamina is consumed, we’ll have to stop and delay time.” Han Jiang Gu Ying answered.
Even if the rain stopped, the road would still be slippery and hard to walk. They couldn’t afford delays. If they couldn’t find clues or a place to build shelter before dark, there would be big trouble.
Yu Jiang took out the picked-up plastic sticks and walked at the front of the team with Han Jiang Gu Ying on left and right. For plants they couldn’t touch, she could chop them.
There were no roads in the rainforest; they had to force their way through. Stepping on disgusting-feeling things like rotten animal corpses or bursting insects, just pretend you didn’t step on them.
While gathering wild vegetables and medicinal herbs, Yu Jiang sighed that with her initial stamina, she wouldn’t last two hours in a place like this. After surviving doomsday for so long, it felt okay now.
It was just that the raincoat collar was tied too tight, a bit constricting.
She gave the pyrethrum to Han Jiang Gu Ying. Her hand back had been bitten by something unknown, but it wasn’t red or swollen, didn’t hurt or itch, and had healed early, so no need to worry.
Having poison resistance really allowed walking horizontally here.
After more than an hour of walking in the rainforest, the river still wasn’t in sight, but Yu Jiang had already gathered quite a few supplies.
Encountering a scorpion, borrow the stinger on its tail. Encountering medicinal spicy strips, borrow a snake gallbladder. Encountering a toad as big as a head, borrow some venom. Poisonous flowers picked, poisonous grass dug up by the roots.
What a resource-rich instance!
The poisonous things lying motionless on the ground behind seemed to still be cursing: you’re so superior, you’re so great, you rob things and run.
Han Jiang Gu Ying in front mechanically reached out to applaud. Finally understood how they got so rich.
If not for Captain Jiang working so hard, their team couldn’t live such an affluent life in the instance without lacking medicine.
Following Captain Jiang was the right choice!
At this time, Player 6’s team following behind also breathed a sigh of relief seeing the severed vines ahead.
Good thing they chose the right side.
At a glance, the first team had two skilled ones. How nice to follow behind; the road was all cleared.
“They seem to be doing well and don’t lack these supplies, yet they really left nothing.” Someone couldn’t help muttering.
“Enough. Since we chose to walk the road others explored, don’t expect to get supplies. No such good thing.” Player 8, the female player, said.
That’s what she said, but thinking of picking up some things behind, even a few dozen crystal coins was money for Player 9, who still felt a bit annoyed inside.
“Rest for ten minutes then continue. If they get too far ahead soon, we really won’t catch up.” Player 6 spoke.
On a rainy day, clothes were already wet, bodies even more stuffy and hot, even breathing felt uncomfortable.
Still better to follow the traces left by the team ahead. Opening their own path would be harder. They absolutely couldn’t fall behind; at night, more people were safer.
The other team, Great Luck Chariot God, walked all the way cursing all the way. The high-priced insect repellent incense consumed too quickly.
Forget three days; even half a day couldn’t hold out.
