WS - Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Song Shiyue had been carrying the two stone knives she "fished out" from the stream herself. At first she stuffed them into the side pocket of her backpack. Later, along the way, Dog kept fetching things from the stream, and Song Shiyue helped crack them open a few times. She felt that drawing a knife from behind her back wasn't convenient enough. So when they passed a tree with large leaves, she pulled some leaves and made a simple sheath, hanging one of the stone knives from her belt.
But the moment the sheath was finished, Dog gave up on the stream and turned into the woods, bringing back things she couldn't do anything with. So the stone knife went into the sheath and only now had a chance to be drawn.
Song Shiyue didn't know until she drew it — and as expected, it came out very smoothly.
Song Shiyue found it smooth, but nearby Captain Yang's expression turned tense, and he instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Ning Chuyang, sitting under a tree nearby and having medicine applied by Ni Jinghe while keeping an eye on the situation, immediately called out Song Shiyue's name.
Song Shiyue, holding the stone knife and about to get started, paused briefly. She glanced at Captain Yang, whose muscles were taut and wary, then turned to look at Ning Chuyang, who had stood up despite her injury with a face full of concern. She couldn't help but be speechless.
So, in just a day or two, her image in their minds had become someone who draws a knife at the slightest disagreement?
Honestly...
Song Shiyue was full of complaints inside, but there was one thing that gave her comfort.
Yu Nianbing, who hadn't moved an inch or made a sound, received a smile from Song Shiyue so friendly it held a hint of gratitude. Instantly, Yu Nianbing's tense heart and secretly clenched little fists relaxed.
Song Shiyue, thinking she had finally found a kindred spirit, had no idea that it was only a false one.
But it didn't matter; she still gained some comfort.
Song Shiyue ignored the Captain, who was as taut as a bowstring that might snap at any sudden move, and walked a few steps forward on her own to the tree.
She crouched, raised the knife, and dug.
Behind her, a group of people suddenly relaxed.
Director Zhang watched the holographic screen before him and wiped his forehead in relief.
It was strange; even though he had the advantage of adjustable camera angles and could see clearly that Song Shiyue's eyes were completely clear and without any hostility, when she drew the knife, he still couldn't help but sweat a little.
Fortunately, it was just a false alarm, and he hadn't lost his composure and blurted out anything.
Probably because the way Song Shiyue drew the knife was so practiced and smooth that it gave him certain... impressions.
Director Zhang's shoulders slumped as he wiped his forehead, consoling himself thus.
But Captain Yang, standing not far from Song Shiyue, couldn't hide the dark resentment in his eyes.
She did it on purpose — definitely deliberately putting on that intimidating act to retaliate for his rule changes and for sabotaging their plans!
Having witnessed Song Shiyue's rock-throwing snake kill, Captain Yang refused to admit his own mistaken cowardice. He could only attribute his stress reaction to Song Shiyue deliberately setting him up. Repeating such words in his mind, for a moment he didn't even care what Song Shiyue was actually doing.
Of course, if Captain Yang wasn't paying attention, someone else was.
When Song Shiyue drew the knife, Yu Nianbing had two guesses. The first one carried very little weight but had her heart hanging — fortunately, it wasn't that. The second one was exactly what Song Shiyue was now working hard to do.
Song Shiyue swung the stone knife, sending up clouds of dust at the base of the tree. Dog wagged her tail and ran around her, eager to join in, but under such quick blade work, she couldn't get a paw in edgewise. Whining anxiously, Dog simply went to a nearby tree and started digging there too.
One person and one dog, each at a tree, with dust flying everywhere — it was a rather comical scene, yet it made Yu Nianbing's heart ache with a sour pang, and her eyes began to feel uncomfortable. Not long before, Yu Nianbing had tossed Song Shiyue three thousand li away, and just like that, she had been picked back up again.
Naturally, Song Shiyue had no idea that in this short time, she had traveled six thousand li round-trip.
Indeed, the books do not lie. Making tools is the fundamental difference between humans and animals.
With the help of the stone knife, Song Shiyue quickly followed the trunk and dug out the part of the tree buried underground.
Picking up the indigo pigment pouch Feng Qianqian had given her earlier, Song Shiyue firmly pressed her own palm print below Yu Nianbing's grass-green one.
"Done." Song Shiyue stood, brushed the dirt off her clothes, and turned to Captain Yang with a grin that showed a row of white teeth.
Compared to Captain Yang, who was clearly not happy at all, the StarNet livestream room was practically bursting with joy, almost shooting off fireworks.
"Hahaha, that works too?"
"When it comes to slick moves, I bow only to Sister Song!"
"Look at Captain Yang, he looks like he's about to faint from anger!"
"Hahaha, poor Captain Yang, teetering between scared to death and pissed to death every day."
"Song Shiyue is working so hard to team up with Yu Nianbing, I'm starting to suspect that confession half a year ago was real."
"Even digging up the tree roots — if this isn't love~~"
"If this isn't love~~ what do I have to be sad about~~ If this isn't love, I'd really be sad — from a Mooncake-flavored Little Ice Bucket"
"Really putting in the effort, even as a passerby, I'm a little moved."
"Yu Nianbing doesn't seem angry either — could it be that the confession half a year ago was successful?"
"Save the children — if we get real sugar like this, I might just collapse from too much happiness."
"If you can't handle this bit of sweetness, how can you be a proper Little Mooncake? I bet five cents that Little Ice Cube is feeling happy inside right now~"
"Hahaha, am I the only one concerned about Dog still digging at the other tree?"
"When Song Shiyue, through hard work, once again takes hold of Yu Nianbing's little hand, the simp dog beside them still has nothing~"
"Where? Where did they hold hands?"
"Friend above, not sure why, but I suddenly feel a sour pang like I'm that simp dog..."
"Same..."
"Hearing that, suddenly I feel a bit sad..."
"Happy and heartbroken, clutching my heart as I fall."
"Be strong, friends — Captain Yang hasn't collapsed yet, are we going to give up first?"
"No, I can still go on! (stands up resolutely)"
"Hahaha, it feels so good to ship the right CP. I didn't jump from Shepherd Wang to Little Mooncake half an hour ago for nothing."
"??? — a stare from Shepherd Wang."
"Now that the rules have been mastered to this extent, my Song-Yu CP teaming up is secure, right?"
"Hard to say, but if the production team has any shame, it should be fine."
"The problem is Captain Yang has no shame left..."
"How could there be a problem? Did you ask my Sister Song's forty-meter blade?"
What the StarNet viewers were worried about was also what concerned the people on Wilderness Planet.
Song Shiyue's move, honestly, practically went in the opposite direction from the tree-climbing event. Yet it didn't violate any of the rules that Captain Yang had just re-established and supplemented.
Director Zhang more or less knew that Captain Yang had been feeling aggrieved all day, but the way Captain Yang had just re-explained the rules was already a bit of a rascal's move. If he went back on his word now, it would look too ugly.
This wasn't an interlude during Captain Yang's guiding; it was a segment set by the production team. Captain Yang didn't represent his personal attitude, so Director Zhang had to step in.
Thus, after Song Shiyue finished and looked toward Captain Yang, it was Director Zhang who spoke first.
"Alright, now that all six have completed this event, according to the revised rules, I announce the team-ups as follows: Zhuang Jiachuan and Guan Yongyi, one team; Mu Xingzhou and Ning Chuyang, one team; Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue, one team." Director Zhang paused, then simply continued, "Grouping is complete. Next, we can enter the camp. After completing the team challenge, you will be assigned your accommodation for tonight based on your ranking."
Although they still had a challenge before they could rest, having Director Zhang confirm the groupings satisfied Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue. Ning Chuyang, who heard it from the side, felt a bit regretful, but being paired with Mu Xingzhou was something she had guessed. She wasn't too disappointed. She just hoped Mu Xingzhou would be a bit more normal going forward — she didn't ask for much, just sixty or seventy percent of his former self would do.
Captain Yang, who had been about to speak only to be cut off by Director Zhang, was certainly not happy. He had been ready to swallow this inconvenience, but Director Zhang's interjection made it seem like he didn't trust him.
But for a segment set by the production team, having someone from the team guide it via voiceover was normal procedure. Rather, Captain Yang's earlier move of stepping forward to adjust the rules had been somewhat overstepping. The guests just didn't know the ins and outs. In front of the production team, Captain Yang was still a bit guilty, so he couldn't quibble with Director Zhang's 'setting things right' at this moment.
The main group by the tree headed toward the few who were watching the bags in front of the camp, bringing them the news of the team-ups along the way.
Guan Yongyi and Mu Xingzhou didn't much care, but Zhuang Jiachuan hid his disappointment.
What else could be done?
Zhuang Jiachuan was willing to believe that the production team had done their best, and had failed. After all, he had observed the whole way. Ever since the king cobra appeared, the production team had lost control over this group. No matter how many or how good the setups, once people's hearts turned rebellious, things couldn't possibly go smoothly as planned.
And besides... Zhuang Jiachuan glanced at Yu Nianbing, who was about to pick up a beef leg but had been beaten to it by Song Shiyue.
With Captain Yang clearly unreliable and often digging pitfalls, it was only natural that these two, who seemed to get along well, would want to stick together.
One had strength, the other brains. If they chose not to follow the production team's set route, what could anyone do about it?
The camp was only a hundred meters away. Yu Nianbing couldn't out-grab Song Shiyue, so she let her take the beef leg. Inside, she wasn't unhappy about it.
But sometimes, happiness is always short-lived.
Just two steps later, Yu Nianbing watched helplessly as Song Shiyue picked up another beef leg.
The cow head, the front half of the cow, plus two front legs — and earlier they were supposed to divide the beef? Why didn't you just carry the whole cow?
Glancing at the camp only a hundred meters away, Yu Nianbing ultimately didn't say anything and let Song Shiyue stride forward carrying half a cow.
She looked again at Ning Chuyang, who was limping and gazing at her weakly with tear-filled eyes. Yu Nianbing sighed silently and reached out to support her.
What else could she say? She could only say that carrying beef was better than carrying a person.
Although she couldn't say exactly where the advantage lay, Yu Nianbing knew it was vastly better.
The campsite for the night was much better than the so-called Noon Rest Stop.
That Noon Rest Stop was just an empty patch of ground that Captain Yang had casually pointed out, no different from the ones they passed along the way.
But this evening's camp was different.
The whole camp was surrounded by a wooden fence. Though the fence wasn't tall or dense, the fact that it was there gave people a sense of security.
Then there were a few small wooden houses that could be seen at a glance inside.
There was no need for the production team to explain more; they knew from signing the contract that each night's camp would have a room for bathing — truly the greatest comfort after a day of trekking through the wilderness.
As they got closer, they could see there were only three small wooden houses, and they didn't look very big, which could not help but make people feel a bit nervous.
Naturally, they remembered what Director Zhang had said after the grouping.
It seemed that the competition after grouping really wasn't just talk. Tonight, one or two teams would certainly have no house to sleep in.
Indeed, as soon as they entered the camp, Wang Daming stepped forward and began to introduce the camp's facilities.
What facilities were there, really? It was just a large circle of wooden fence, three small wooden houses, and a large open area enclosed within.
"As you can see, this is our campsite for tonight. It has a sturdy fence, one bathroom, and two bedrooms. The team that wins the upcoming challenge can stay in those two bedrooms." Wang Daming's hand pointed to the three wooden houses from left to right, then gestured to the open area they were standing on. "And this is our tent zone. We will provide the materials for setting up tents for the team members staying here. The production crew will also stay here with you. And behind the houses, there's our lean-to zone. Those staying there will need to build their own lean-tos."
Very good, the expected hierarchy had appeared.
Song Shiyue looked down at Yu Nianbing, who was already worn out and sitting on the ground. Silently, in her heart, she apologized to the other companions.
Although they had gotten along pleasantly and unitedly that day, if she were alone it would be one thing, but with Yu Nianbing here, she definitely had to fight for first place.
Never mind the lean-tos they hadn't seen yet — even staying in a tent was nowhere near as comfortable as these two wooden houses.
This was only the first day...
Song Shiyue thought back to how Yu Nianbing had unconsciously leaned heavily on her on the way. For someone like Yu Nianbing, who really didn't like troubling others, that kind of weight meant she was truly reaching her limit.
Thinking of this, Song Shiyue glanced again at the pile of beef nearby and suddenly regretted her stinginess.
If she had only brought the meat and not the bones, it might have been much better.
Because of Captain Yang, who stood as a constant target and kept swaying to remind everyone to look at him, the six had indeed gotten along quite pleasantly that day. But... with comfort at stake, that day's camaraderie naturally had to take a back seat.
Even though the wooden houses had their doors shut, it was as if the group could see right through them to the soft beds inside.
"The grouping just now, though based on strength and pairing those of similar ability together, might suggest the strongest team has the upper hand. But our challenges aren't all about strength. For example, the challenge related to tonight's housing will test everyone's perseverance, skill, and, of course, a little bit of luck," Wang Daming recited with a smile from the script, plus a few lines Director Zhang had just added on the fly. He continued, "This is a challenge, a competition, but it's also a necessary part of our dinner plan. Would anyone like to guess what the challenge is?"
Fire-making — Zhuang Jiachuan instantly had a flash of insight, but before the joy could even form, it dissipated.
Wang Daming had made it so obvious that the rest also guessed it, but each felt a different mix of emotions.
"Hahaha, that's right, fire by friction." No one answered, so Wang Daming could only laugh awkwardly twice and point to the wooden houses. "Behind the houses are the materials needed for fire-making. We might as well go take a look at the third-place lean-to while we're at it."
With that, Wang Daming ducked his head and led the way forward.
"We can get second place, right?" Ning Chuyang looked at Mu Xingzhou with some hope.
"Secure third, fight for second," Mu Xingzhou said with an honest face.
But Zhuang Jiachuan looked at Song Shiyue and Yu Nianbing, tugged at the corner of his mouth into a smile, and said, "You two, the first-place pair, go ahead and rest... It'll take us a while to get the fire going."
"Right, go rest first. You could even shower first — there's only one bathroom, there'll be a queue later," Guan Yongyi, thinking ahead for once, said as he pointed to the wooden houses.
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