33: Chapter 33: A Glimpse into the Lives of People Under the Law of the Jungle

[Endgame Simulation's Battle Report from Yesterday.]

[Total deaths among global Challengers: 578.]

[Great Xia: 5 deaths.]

[USA: 3 deaths.]

[Russia: 3 deaths.]

[Japan: 5 deaths.]

[India: 11 deaths.]

...

[Environmental factors (poisoning/hypothermia/falling off cliffs): 14%]

[Mutant beast attacks: 71%]

[Challenger conflicts: 15%]

A cold voice echoed in his ears.

Lin Ye paused his movements.

Great Xia had lost another five compatriots.

He let out a long breath and quickly composed himself.

In this danger-ridden cave, there was no time for sentimentality.

Picking up the small iron pot, he finished off the soft-boiled meat soup and bacon.

With warmth in his stomach, his mind became clearer.

He pulled out his dagger; three thick wooden sticks he had prepared yesterday lay at his feet.

These sticks were about the length of an arm. He had already scraped off the bark last night, revealing the pale wood core.

Lin Ye gripped the middle of one stick, pressed the dagger about 20 centimeters from the tip, and began to slash and scrape diagonally back and forth.

Wood chips flew.

The surface of the wooden stick was soon covered in dense wood fibers, making it look like a spiked club chewed on by a husky.

...

Inside the Great Xia Live Stream, viewers couldn't contain their curiosity again after seeing Lin Ye's mysterious actions.

[What is Brother Eye doing carving that thing so early in the morning? Making a spiked club?]

[With this craftsmanship, you told me he graduated from the Archaeology Department? I thought he majored in woodworking.]

[It looks like a torch, but wouldn't it burn faster if it's made so rough?]

[So anxious! Calling Teacher Xu! We need a wave of reverse jinxing to stay safe!]

At the commentary desk.

Su Qinglan suppressed a smile and cleared her throat. "Teacher Xu, the audience is waiting for your verdict."

Xu Mingyuan's aged face twitched as he smoothly picked up his cup and took a sip.

He then wore a worldly, slick smile.

"Ahem, well... Lin Ye's thinking has always been broad."

"This special physical treatment is surely to increase some kind of... um, adhesion property in a specific environment."

He paused.

"Don't worry, everyone. Let's keep watching and let the facts slap my face... oh no, let Lin Ye reveal the answer!"

[Old Xu chickened out! That Tai Chi move was a perfect ten!]

[Teacher Xu: It's not that I don't dare to speak; I'm just waiting for him to finish his performance. It's all about companionship.]

[Brother Eye, look what you've driven the expert to!]

...

In the cave, Lin Ye began the next step.

He used a stick to pick up some of the solidified resin he had boiled yesterday and held it near the campfire to heat it.

The resin softened quickly, bubbles appearing on its surface.

Lin Ye gripped the frayed wooden stick and thrust it directly into the resin, rotating it forcefully.

The raised wood fibers became excellent grip points, firmly "locking" the viscous resin onto the stick.

After applying one layer, he held the stick near the open flame and continued to roast it.

The high temperature caused the surface resin to melt again, penetrating deep into the interior along the grain of the wood fibers.

He repeated the process three times in the same manner.

The tip of the wooden stick was completely saturated with grease, taking on a rosin-like color.

But he wasn't done yet.

Lin Ye grabbed a handful of peeled twigs and wrapped them around the resin layer like a Zongzi.

One last roasting.

The outer layer of resin melted, binding the thin twigs firmly together.

A windproof, long-burning handmade torch—success!

Lin Ye weighed it in his hand:

"My archaeology studies weren't in vain. These ancient torch-making techniques are like a divine skill here."

He set it on a stone slab and picked up the second stick to continue processing.

The Great Xia Live Stream immediately became lively.

[I told you it wasn't a spiked club. Who has a spiked club that smells like rosin!]

[This torch structure is amazing. Resin as fuel, and the outer twigs make it windproof and leak-proof!]

[Brother Eye, the handicraft expert, always comes up with something new. Watching him work is so relaxing.]

[Teacher Xu, how do you evaluate this move? [doge]]

...

The Disaster Prevention Administration Command Center.

Zhou Jianping was reporting to Director Wei Tiejun.

"Director Wei, this is the summary of data for all surviving Challengers from yesterday."

Then, he looked left and right before lowering his voice:

"Also, the visa department just sent an emergency report. Since last night, there's been an explosion in the number of people applying for emigration."

"What's the reason?" Director Wei Tiejun's voice was cold and hard.

"Two reasons," Zhou Jianping said through gritted teeth.

"First, because we gave the airdrop to Lin Ye. These people think we're gambling with the national destiny and feel that Great Xia is beyond saving."

"Second, because of that mess with South Korea last night. They're afraid we'll also have a spineless coward who gets them punished by association, so they're rushing abroad to find a 'sense of security'."

He grew more furious as he spoke:

"These people eat Great Xia's food while tearing down Great Xia's house!"

He asked tentatively, "Director Wei, should we intercept them? At a time like this, the public opinion impact is too negative."

"Intercept them for what!"

Director Wei Tiejun snorted coldly, but there was no anger on his face.

"These sophisticated egoists are just a waste of food if they stay in Great Xia! Since they want to leave, give them a green light all the way!"

"As long as they don't have access to secrets and aren't involved in any cases or disputes, stamp their papers and let them go!"

Zhou Jianping stood frozen, his face full of shock. "Let them all go? Director Wei, but this is..."

Director Wei Tiejun stood up and looked at the big screen.

"Great Xia's backbone has never depended on a few pieces of trash."

"Better to sweep them all out now than wait for them to be chosen in the next round and screw over the country."

He sneered, his tone full of disdain.

"The USA's resources are all in the hands of the upper class and conglomerates. Lately, their lower class has been dying off too quickly."

"They're accepting everyone now just to gather a bunch of cheap 'cannon fodder' to increase their margin for error!."

Zhou Jianping suddenly understood.

Go enjoy the air of freedom?

To hell with that!

That's clearly bringing your own utensils to serve as someone else's livestock!

Before he could speak, Director Wei Tiejun added another sentence.

"Old Zhou, use this opportunity to screen everyone in the Administration as well!"

"Anyone with thoughts of leaving can bring them up. I'll approve their papers anytime."

"Everyone has their own ambitions. Great Xia doesn't support idle gods, nor does it force spineless cowards to stay."

"Yes!"

Zhou Jianping stood at attention and took the order.

...

In the cave.

Lin Ye stuffed the small iron pot and sleeping bag into the bottom of his backpack.

He even stuffed in the ragged clothes he had changed out of; nothing could be wasted here.

He zipped it up, put on the backpack, and fastened the chest strap.

Four newly carved wooden short spears were tucked into the convenient mesh pocket on the left side of the backpack.

The two spare torches he had made were firmly secured to the buckles on the right side.

He checked the Wind-Chasing Claw on his bracer; the lock was intact.

Confirming his equipment was in order.

Lin Ye pulled out a torch and held the tip toward the campfire.

At first, only a puff of choking white smoke came out.

Half a minute later.

"Puff!"

Orange-red flames ignited from the resin ball!

The firelight was steady and bright, dispelling the cold and darkness within several meters of him.

Lin Ye raised his right foot and stepped on the embers of the campfire.

He ground it down twice, extinguishing the sparks to leave no potential trouble behind.

He turned around, his back to the Underground River.

Holding the burning torch high in his left hand, he gripped a meter-long branch in his right hand to use as a walking stick.

By the light of the fire, Lin Ye, alone.

Carefully walked toward the unknown areas deep within the cave.