Chapter 50
Following He Erwang’s line of sight, after Qi Xiu saw clearly what was not far from them, his pupils suddenly shrank.
Fuck. It really did not look like a dog.
As for what it was—an appearance similar to a dog’s, but with a clearly more vicious build and gaze—the answer was practically ready to come out.
Mo Fan and Gu Shengsheng also reacted.
In an instant, all movement stopped. Their bodies went unbelievably stiff.
[My god, I work at a zoo, and I guarantee that’s a wolf! Help!!!]
[Yes, it’s obviously a wolf. This is way too dangerous! Fuck, that wolf’s eyes are terrifying. I feel like my blood has frozen.]
[Hiss, director team, come out right now! Something happened! Are you crazy? Why did you simulate a wolf?]
[If I remember correctly, wolves eat people, right? Is this wolf treating Xiao Qi and the others as food?]
[What do they do now? A bunch of weaklings—how could they possibly beat a wolf?]
[Actually, maybe not. There are four guests here, four against one, and they all have knives. They still have a chance of winning, as long as this wolf doesn’t call other wolves over. Help, there shouldn’t be any other wolves in this forest, right?]
[Right now, this wolf doesn’t dare attack rashly. It’s probably because there are many people on the opposite side. Hold steady!!! If Big Boss Shen and Ye-god were there, with their skills, their odds might be a little higher. But fighting a wild beast like a wolf without getting injured is impossible.]
[You all make it sound so easy. More people against one wolf may win, but what’s the price of winning? Injury is almost certain. What if someone is bitten until disabled, or even dies? If they have to watch themselves get bitten and crippled, the pain in the virtual world is real! If they have to watch a companion get injured or even die, what are these people supposed to do? Do you think this is a TV drama? Once they leave the virtual world, they can just get out of character?]
[Dammit, is the production team useless? A bunch of idiots, right? Why did you put wolves on the deserted island? Can’t you delete this wolf’s data?!]
What they did not know was that the production team’s control room had also fallen into chaos.
Sun Xinping’s scalp went numb. “No, how exactly did the technical team simulate the data? Why is there a wolf?”
Goat also looked completely baffled. “Most of what we simulated were tourist islands. Only one overseas location and part of the Greater Khingan Range had a little data collected, but we didn’t go deep. We didn’t encounter any large animals at the time.”
Someone reacted. “My brother, are you insane? The Greater Khingan Range is a primeval forest!”
“But what we simulated was all areas where no dangerous animals appeared.” The relevant staff member panicked.
“W-What do we do? How do we get rid of this wolf? I-I’ll immediately find the specific data for this wolf and see if it can be deleted.” A member of the technical team spoke in a panic.
The veins on Sun Xinping’s forehead throbbed. “Delete it directly? Are you crazy? A wolf that’s already appeared right in front of the guests just vanishes before their eyes?”
“Is my show going to turn straight into a supernatural program?”
Old Qian, the head of the publicity team, cautiously offered a suggestion. “Actually, that’s not impossible. We can implant a memory into the guests that they ate mushrooms? Make them think seeing the wolf was their hallucination?”
“Anyway, there are plenty of mushrooms with hallucinogenic effects in Yundian, and the season is suitable too. This is exactly when mushrooms mature.”
Sun Xinping: “…When your family eats mushrooms, does everyone produce the same hallucination? Try it and show me?”
Someone proposed, “How about directly sending down a bolt of lightning to strike the wolf dead?”
Now, without needing the director to urge them, everyone spontaneously began brainstorming.
“That makes sense! Or have a meteorite fall and crush the wolf to death.” The person making the suggestion felt that their idea was very constructive. “Anyway, in our history, there were great magicians. Summoning wind and rain was no problem. Although this kind of accidental event is very accidental, it’s not impossible for it to happen once by accident!”
“Eh, do wolves have heart disease? Make the wolf have a heart attack and drop dead? Or is this wolf female? If not, can we turn it into a female wolf? Make it about to give birth, then the guests can hurry and run, or take advantage of its lack of preparation to kill it!”
Sun Xinping frowned tightly and listened to everyone’s opinions, pondering which of these completely unreliable methods was somewhat reliable.
He kept urging the technical team to speed up. Otherwise, if the wolf really acted, he would not dare livestream the guests fighting a wolf with their bare hands.
If such a possibly bloody and terrifying scene were really broadcast and caused psychological trauma, he would not even need viewers to report him. He would be directly invited for tea.
“All of you in the technical team, stop standing there! Hurry and check whether there are any other dangerous animals around these coordinates!”
If they were going to eliminate them, they had to eliminate them all at once.
Otherwise, what if this wolf disappeared and then a pack came?
Nor could the wolf disappear, only for a tiger to come instead.
At the same time, many staff members were also so nervous that their entire bodies stiffened, as if they were personally there.
They did not dare blink as they stared at the screen.
On the screen, after Qi Xiu and the other two beneath the tree realized what the wolf in the distance was, they held their breath. Their minds went blank for several seconds, and they did not dare move at all.
Nor did they dare run.
A human’s running speed could never be faster than a wolf’s. Turning around and running would undoubtedly expose one’s weakness directly. The outcome would be unimaginable. The wolf would probably immediately snarl and roar as it rushed up to tear you apart and swallow you.
What they could do now was maintain the standoff first.
They had numbers. The wolf was afraid too. Right now, it should be observing their strength and did not dare launch an attack easily.
But what should they do? What should they do?
For the first time, the few of them felt death pressing so close.
He Erwang was up in the tree, and his peach-picking movements had also frozen.
!
His breathing grew heavier.
Wolves probably could not climb trees. For now, he was relatively the safest one.
Right, climb trees!
Actually, the wolf was not looking at him. Its target was clearly the people beneath the tree.
He Erwang’s body was so stiff it even hurt a little. Only his lips opened and closed, making a tiny sound that was still enough for the people below to hear. “Can you climb trees? Climb up here!”
Gu Shengsheng was so frightened his voice trembled. “I can’t.”
He Erwang squeezed several words out from between his teeth. “I’ve never tried. I don’t know whether I can.”
Mo Fan actually could, but when he saw the two people beside him looking pale with fear, he swallowed the words that had reached his mouth.
Climbing a tree would undoubtedly show weakness to the enemy. If one could climb up quickly, that would be fine. If one could not, and instead startled the wolf into action, that would be troublesome.
The few of them stared at the wolf like this for several minutes, feeling their legs go stiff, numb, and sore.
The wolf’s patience, however, was exceptionally good.
When wolves stalked prey, they could even go without sleep for days and nights, and did not need to eat.
Humans could not.
[Although I’m very nervous and scared right now, hearing them talk still makes me feel so warm, wuwu.]
[The guests this season can truly be enshrined as gods, wuwu! In this situation, not a single one of them blamed anyone else. They even took the problem onto themselves!]
[Indeed. Adversity reveals true feelings. After this, they really count as having gone through life and death together. In this kind of situation, they’re still thinking for each other. Their character is obvious.]
[Really. I was driven crazy with anger by the production team, but now I feel like I’ve been healed again by this group of adorable treasures. But is the production team still not going to do anything? Are they really planning to watch the guests fight a wolf?]
[Wuwu, who understands? At first, I opened the third season of “Being Human” just to watch everyone make fools of themselves. But now, the better they are, the more I hope they can keep going smoothly and be happy every day.]
[The problem is, how do they deal with the wolf now?]
When people were afraid, they instinctively thought of the person they relied on most.
Gu Shengsheng could not hold back the fear in his heart. “If only Boss were here.”
Qi Xiu also hoped Shen Jinfeng was there. It was not because he hoped Shen Jinfeng could resolve this wolf. Rather, from a metaphysical perspective, he felt that… with Shen Jinfeng around, danger should turn into safety.
Mo Fan frowned. “It would be the same even if Boss were here. Besides, Boss and Xiao Qin left together. There are only two of them. We don’t know if they’ve run into danger either.”
Qi Xiu and Gu Shengsheng’s expressions sharpened, and worry appeared on their faces.
But invisibly, they became a little more independent mentally, knowing that under the current circumstances, they could not pin their hopes on someone else.
Qi Xiu silently reached behind him and drew out the military knife at his waist. “Everyone take out your weapons. We have numbers and knives. We can definitely beat the wolf. At worst, we’ll get bitten a few times.”
Gu Shengsheng gritted his teeth. “When one person gets bitten, the other two will slash at the wolf’s face. I refuse to believe the wolf isn’t afraid of pain.”
[My god, I feel like Gu Shengsheng is so scared he’s about to cry. His eyes are watery, but there’s a ruthless force in them that seems ready to charge forward without looking back. He’s so beautiful. Forgive me for still being dazzled by his looks for two seconds at a time like this…]
[He really… who still remembers that the production team’s persona for him was selfish, arrogant, and domineering? Before, I kept thinking his timid behavior seemed a little fake. I didn’t expect that at the moment of life and death, he really would become brave, but in a way I had completely never imagined.]
[So a person’s true nature can completely overpower the subconscious persona implanted by the production team.]
[And Qi Xiu too, wuwu. He looks like he’s about to heroically sacrifice himself. The persona the production team arranged for him was cowardly and timid, right? This is a complete contrast.]
[First time seeing an all-member contrast where everyone is contrasting in a good direction. But if this kind of contrast has to appear in such a situation, I’d rather not have it.]
[Everyone says there’s nothing to fear when so many people fight one wolf, but when I go out with classmates and see a slightly bigger dog, the whole group is scared to death.]
In fact, He Erwang had an impulse to go down and fight alongside them too.
But when he looked down beneath the tree, more than seven meters high, he felt a bit dizzy. He had never climbed down from a tree by himself before.
But if he had to stay alone in the tree and watch his companions get hurt while he could not help—
He gritted his teeth and tried hard to look down. His eyelashes fluttered nonstop, as if he were doing some kind of mental preparation.
Several more minutes passed. The wolf seemed tired of staring and raised a paw to scratch its face.
But those eyes were cold and full of desire. It was the look of staring at prey.
Mo Fan’s breathing grew a little more rapid. They had already stayed motionless for a long time.
Remaining still under high tension actually consumed a great deal of stamina.
He seemed a little impatient. “This can’t go on.”
Without greeting the others, he moved slightly, faintly blocking Gu Shengsheng and Qi Xiu behind him.
This movement immediately drew the wolf’s attention.
The wolf tentatively took a small step forward, but was still cautious, seemingly judging how threatening these people before it were.
Qi Xiu and Gu Shengsheng’s eyes widened in fright. “Mo-ge, don’t move!”
A slight trace of irritation appeared on Mo Fan’s refined face. “Wolves are afraid of fire.”
He instructed Gu Shengsheng, “I remember Boss gave you a fire striker before. Did you put it in the basket and bring it out? Take it out and light a fire. Maybe we can use fire to force the wolf back, then we’ll immediately find Boss and retreat.”
Although Shen Jinfeng had previously taught them all the technique for making fire by friction, maybe they were too dull… they did not grasp the key points especially well.
Starting a fire by friction alone always required at least five or six minutes.
Gu Shengsheng was responsible for distilling fresh water.
Although they had coconut water to drink, he always worried that they would get tired of it. Fresh water was indispensable.
It was just that his speed at making fire by friction was truly… hard to describe.
Therefore, Shen Jinfeng had found time to make him a fire striker.
Compared to making fire by friction, a fire striker was simply far too convenient.
A bamboo-tube-shaped fire striker was usually in an extinguished state. When one needed to use it, one would lift the lid and blow lightly, and sparks would emerge.
Once filled, it could be used many times.
At the time, the others had been stunned when they saw it.
They asked Shen Jinfeng, “Boss, why are you omnipotent? It feels like you can live well no matter where you are.”
Shen Jinfeng had said lightly, “It isn’t difficult. I saw fire strikers in costume dramas, then searched up how to make them and tried it myself. Just a coincidence.”
That was right. No matter where he was, he could indeed live relatively well.
After all, he had indeed stayed in all sorts of places.
A fire striker was not a difficult operation at all.
After all, it was a daily necessity in ancient worlds. If he could not even make this, then all those worlds he had transmigrated through would have been wasted.
The fire striker had been made casually, merely to make it convenient for Gu Shengsheng to start a fire when he needed to begin distilling.
Gu Shengsheng had not thought of this just now.
Now that Mo Fan brought it up, he felt it made sense, but his hands were still trembling, and he did not dare move.
“Mo-ge, I’m a little scared. If you move, the wolf moves too. My fire striker should be at the very bottom of the leaf basket. I need to dig it out. What if the wolf comes over?”
Mo Fan’s gaze circled once, and he also glared fiercely at the wolf.
[Don’t say, Mo Fan really deserves to be a veteran actor. Although he doesn’t have memories of being an actor now, once he wants to perform this aura, it comes out immediately!]
[Fuck, I was startled by his gaze. It feels like he’s going to go up and tear that wolf apart raw. But he’s so handsome!]
[His acting in the new drama Blade-Sheath Operation is really amazing. I seriously got it!]
[And it feels like he really can step up during dangerous moments. Sure enough, being older means eating more rice.]
Because nothing had happened for several minutes for the time being, and the production team had comforted the audience on the public screen, saying they would soon adjust the equipment and make this wolf “disappear,” and the guests only needed to hold the standoff for a few more minutes—
They also felt somewhat relieved.
Some netizens had a little free mental space to start joking.
But on the screen, Mo Fan’s behavior did not go as the production team wished.
Hearing Gu Shengsheng’s reply, he was silent for a moment.
His tone was extremely calm, yet revealed extreme madness. “I’ll stand in front of you and cover you. Don’t be afraid.”
“If the wolf really rushes over, I’ll be the first to go up.”
“I’ll definitely block it until you light the fire.” His words were firm and resolute.
[!!! Fuck, Mo Fan, don’t be impulsive!]
[Wuwu, hearing him say this, I really… I don’t know why, but my tears fell immediately. Mo Fan has completely shocked me.]
[I finally understand that the personas the production team gave them still had some effect. I remember Mo Fan’s persona was: if he dislikes someone, he fights, somewhat irritable. Before, I was confused. Was his irritability limited to occasionally educating the younger kids? Now I understand. His “if he dislikes a person, he fights” didn’t fail to work—it turned into if he dislikes a “beast,” he fights! When encountering danger, he fights first!]
When Gu Shengsheng heard this, his eyes instantly reddened for real.
Actually, compared to the others, his impression of Mo Fan before had been average.
But at this moment, without question, Mo Fan’s position in his heart rose to second place after Shen Jinfeng.
Qi Xiu stood at the side, his hands itching terribly. “Mo-ge, I’ll go with you.”
“I’m young. Even if a piece of flesh gets bitten off, it’ll definitely grow back faster than yours.”
Gu Shengsheng said no more. Although his hands were still trembling slightly—
He pulled the leaf basket off his back and started rummaging through it for the fire striker.
When the wolf saw him move, it indeed became somewhat unable to hold back, eager to make a move.
Mo Fan gritted his teeth and grabbed a handful of stones from the ground.
With incomparable ferocity, he threw them at the wolf.
Qi Xiu copied him, pretending to attack.
Because he remembered the old man saying that when dealing with fierce beasts, if there was no other choice and one had to face them head-on, running was useless, hiding was useless, and a standoff would consume even more of one’s stamina.
One should act even fiercer than the wild beast and take the opportunity to take out or find a weapon.
He raised the military knife. Its sharp cold edge reflected a silvery, cold light under the sunlight.
Sure enough, the wolf stopped and no longer moved.
After a few seconds, Gu Shengsheng found the fire striker. After lifting the lid and blowing into it, he ignited a flame. He grabbed a handful of furry grass from the ground, wrapped it around a stone, lit it, and threw it at the wolf.
The few of them began picking up wooden sticks together to make a fire.
The wolf was startled and forced back several steps by the fire.
Just when everyone thought the situation had improved and there was hope of using fire to force the wolf back—
A long howl sounded from the surroundings.
Then came several similarly chilling responses.
Mo Fan’s body trembled, and he slowly lifted himself up.
He saw several more wolves run over from the depths of the forest ahead. Within a few seconds, there were actually seven wolves surrounding them!
[Fuck! Where is the production team? Are you people crazy? You’ve been dealing with this one wolf for ages and still haven’t finished, and now a whole pack has come?]
[I saw the hopeless look in Mo-ge and the others’ eyes, and my nose stung, tears falling immediately. I’m so sad. That feeling of trying every possible way, seeing hope right in front of you, only to suddenly realize you’re in a dead end again—I’ve experienced it. But what they’re facing now is a life-and-death crisis, many times worse!]
The production team’s technical guy was typing code so fast his fingers were nearly leaving afterimages.
He was also frightened into cold sweat.
Meanwhile, because they had split up, in the other livestream window—
Shen Jinfeng led Qin Ye nearly a thousand meters to one side.
Strangely enough, this area actually had quite a few wild orchids.
All right, it was not strange for a forest to have all kinds of flowers.
But from near to far—
Shen Jinfeng brought Qin Ye to stop before a pale, elegant, fresh orchid, then curiously crouched down to admire it carefully.
This orchid’s color was light, elegant, and fresh, but the shape of its open petals was somewhat bizarre, like a frog in mid-leap.
Qin Ye looked at it along with him for a few moments, and some surprise also appeared on his face.
He spoke with slight hesitation. “This looks a bit like a ghost orchid?”
Shen Jinfeng did not answer immediately.
He moved closer to look. There were thousands upon thousands of orchid varieties, and he actually could not recognize them all.
But ghost orchids were too famous. He had forgotten which small world it had been, but someone had given him one before.
At the time, he had not known the market price and had not seen much of the world. When he received it, he had even disliked it a little.
After carefully observing it, he confirmed, “It’s a ghost orchid.”
[What is a ghost orchid? What kind of ghostly name is that?]
The livestream room on Shen Jinfeng’s side was still temporarily calm.
Because the two of them were acting alone, the livestream room was divided into two split screens. At this moment, the viewers on this side still did not know what had happened in the other livestream room.
[Fuck, I searched it up. Sisters, guess how much this orchid costs?]
[Blank-eyed. I searched too. Over ten million… One orchid is worth fifteen million! My goodness, I, someone who has never seen the world, really, really, really had my jaw drop!]
[Damn, I knew orchids were expensive, but I didn’t expect them to be this expensive.]
[H-How much? Fifteen million? That’s worth an apartment in Shanghai, right? Fuck, production team, hurry and tell me where it is. I want to go pick it!!!]
[I have to say, what dogshit luck did Old Dog Sun’s team step in this season? First there was a thousand-year-old ancient tomb, and now there’s a ten-million-yuan orchid? I’m guessing the Forestry Bureau is going to call the production team. Also, warm reminder to the sister above who said she wants to pick it: ghost orchid, also known as the phantom orchid, is a national first-class protected plant. Picking it is illegal…]
[I’m curious. If Big Boss and the others pick it in the show, is that illegal?]
[Illegal my hammer. To put it bluntly, if someone kills a person in the virtual world, whether they can be convicted after coming out is hard to say, since they didn’t really kill anyone. Picking an orchid in the virtual world is illegal?]
[That’s not certain.]
[Whether it’s certain or not aside, I’m thinking: when the production team simulated this data, who knows whether these ghost orchids are still there? If they’ve been picked or withered, would the court think someone from the production team picked them hahahaha? How about I report it?]
[Pfft, sister above, did you steal all the bamboo shoots on the mountain?]
Because of the expensive price of ghost orchids, the netizens instantly reached a climax.
But Shen Jinfeng’s expression grew increasingly calm.
He stood up and did not look at this sky-high-priced ghost orchid again.
Instead, he walked around the surroundings and carefully observed the environment here.
“How strange. If this ghost orchid had been found beside yesterday’s ancient tomb, that would have been somewhat reasonable.”
