Chapter 201: The Silent Primitive Tribe
Yu Jiang led the way in front, the sky growing darker and darker, with the Mutated Millipede chasing them all the way.
They didn’t dare stop for a moment, trudging deep and shallow through the Rainforest, and finally reached the destination two hours later.
The Map Fragment had gained a small piece of ‘Primitive Tribe’, which was also the small house Yu Jiang had spotted on the map before.
Several hundred meters outside the tribe, the terrain became flatter, and closer up, they could even see collapsed simple fences.
There were only 6 crude houses here; to call them houses, they were really just triangular structures made of wood and grass, with only roofs and no walls.
In front of the largest house in the middle was a relatively open clearing, with a rusted Iron Pot and charred Wooden Sticks scattered around.
The entire tribe was eerily silent, with no bloodstains or corpses discovered.
“The Wooden Sticks were probably used to skewer prey, with grease soaked into them.” Han Jiang Gu Ying carefully surveyed the surroundings, then bent down to pick up a Spear made from a sharpened piece of wood,
“It looks like people were still living here before the Apocalypse, and the houses are relatively intact.”
Yu Jiang looked at the wild Banana tree not far behind the main house, which still had clusters of green Bananas on it, though they were a bit high up.
Any fruit in the Apocalypse was precious Supplies.
“I’ll go.” Shi Xu followed her gaze and knew exactly what she wanted to do.
Yu Jiang nodded, and under Shi Xu’s astonished gaze, she pulled out a Folding Ladder.
“You entered the Rainforest Instance and brought a ladder?”
“Of course, better safe than sorry.” Yu Jiang answered without thinking, “And now it’s coming in handy.”
Shi Xu was silent for a moment, then said seriously, “It could also be done without one.”
He took out a more convenient Short Knife, stepped on the nearby Tree Trunk, jumped up, and chopped down several clusters of Bananas.
“Impressive.” Yu Jiang gave a thumbs up, put away her ladder, and took the still-green Bananas.
Raw ones were fine; put them with Apples and they’d ripen quickly.
The group cleared the middle clearing, lit a small campfire, and Yu Jiang tossed in some Dried Mugwort, which could repel some mosquitoes—Jungle Mosquitoes were extremely venomous.
“We’re staying here overnight?” Kuang Kuang Kuang looked at Yu Jiang, “The entire tribe vanished without a trace; it feels like something’s not right.”
“Indeed.” Yu Jiang agreed, “If Giant Insects had broken into the tribe and killed everyone, these houses wouldn’t be so intact.”
The Centipede they encountered earlier was so fierce; with just a shake of its body, they were flung away. These fragile thatched houses would collapse in two hits.
The tribe’s original residents had disappeared for other reasons.
“We don’t have any other choice right now. It’s dark, not suitable for continuing to Explore.” Yu Jiang said softly.
At least the terrain and visibility here were decent, the plants had been cleared by hand, and they could see if anything approached.
“Right, we rushed over in such a hurry that I forgot to mention, I received a Skill Upgrade Mission to collect important information from the Deep Rainforest. This tribe is the key location, and the Millipede we encountered earlier is too.” Han Jiang Gu Ying spoke up.
Say they were Unlucky, yet they got lucky from disaster; he collected one piece of information saying they were lucky to stumble onto the back of a Mutated Scarlet Centipede, the most venomous kind.
Sleeping soundly, suddenly several people come stepping on it a few times—how could it not erupt in rage and spray Venom?
Everyone took off their Outerwear, found wood themselves, and roasted it by the campfire. When they were flung away, they were near the River Channel, with puddles everywhere alongside.
Yu Jiang hadn’t fallen in, but her sleeves and Trouser Legs were wet; the Teammates who did fall had muddy, filthy water on their backs, and Han Jiang Gu Ying was drenched all over.
In the Apocalypse under these conditions, there was nothing to be shy about; they were all wearing Short Sleeve Shirts or Vests underneath, just cleaning their Outerwear.
“Captain Jiang, the Pyrethrum you gave is really effective. That river—good grief, it was full of Leeches that big. Without it, they might’ve crawled into my ears and nose.”
Recalling that scene, Han Jiang Gu Ying couldn’t help sucking in a cold breath.
Hearing this, Strawberry Candy checked herself again, confirming no bloodsucking insects were stuck to her Body, then sprayed a circle of Insecticide Spray around, finally relaxing.
These things wouldn’t kill a Player instantly, but they were truly disgusting.
Han Jiang Gu Ying set up Trap Devices around the area, and Shi Xu went with him to scout nearby as well.
During this time, the other three in the team didn’t relax their vigilance either; only when they returned did the five gather around the campfire for Dinner.
Stamina consumption was too high; everyone was utterly exhausted and urgently needed to replenish Energy.
Dinner was Pork Cabbage Buns prepared by Sad Pig Intestine, plus Buckwheat Steamed Buns—delicious, filling, and irresistibly fragrant.
Under such crude conditions, being able to eat something this good brought an instant surge of happiness.
“I wonder how the other two teams are doing now.” Yu Jiang gazed at the pitch-black Primitive Dense Forest, her tone calm.
Great Luck Chariot God ‘s Team had few medicines; even if they had other scouting skills to find the tribe, the plants and insects along the way would give them plenty of trouble.
“Player 6’s Team should be able to make it out; I saw their Healer’s Skill Level isn’t low, and they have Purification.” Kuang Kuang Kuang said thoughtfully.
A Healer with insufficient Skill Level in this Instance couldn’t hold out long themselves, let alone assist Teammates.
Yu Jiang speculated that an Alchemist with Purification Skill likely had some debuff resistance themselves.
She had the Passive “This Blood is Poisonous”; the Healer route surely had corresponding Skills too.
Just right to see Player 6’s Team’s Strength and verify her theory.
Yu Jiang’s initial thought was that only if Player 6’s Team made it out was Cooperation worth discussing; if not, they had no value for it.
“The interval for the Mutated Scarlet Centipede to spray Venom is about thirty or forty seconds; if we encounter one next time and must kill it, we can only Output during the gaps.” Yu Jiang analyzed for everyone.
“Thirty or forty seconds isn’t enough to kill it; that thing has a Shield outside its Health Bar. Even a Group Purification Healer can only tank one wave; killing it is too much trouble.
Before figuring out the Instance situation, better not waste energy and Skills.”
“Got it.” Strawberry Candy nodded repeatedly; her Combat Power was at the bottom of the team, but she absolutely wouldn’t drop the ball on following the Commander’s orders.
Exactly 7 PM.
Besides the faint light from the campfire, there was also Yu Jiang’s old Camping Lamp five steps away; beyond that, it was pitch black.
Those rustling sounds in the Darkness constantly battered human psychological defenses.
These weren’t too bad yet; with Yu Jiang and the others sitting together and Han Jiang Gu Ying’s Trap Devices showing no Movement, there were no issues.
But just as Yu Jiang took out the Automatic Tent, it started drizzling, and Movement appeared outside the tribe.
A faint Flashlight beam lit up in the Darkness, and with panicked footsteps, the light grew closer and closer.
It was Player 6’s Team, all members present, though one was in poor Status, pale-faced and staggering.
“My goodness, we finally made it out!” Player 6 took a deep breath.
They looked much more disheveled than Yu Jiang’s Team, with mud stains on their Clothes and faces; at night, their teeth looked the whitest.
