Chapter 328: Drowning
Chapter 328: Drowning
Lindsey's success in collecting materials was not a guaranteed 100%.
After dissecting dozens of these creatures, many of the corpses still retained a significant amount of usable resources.
When Lindsey handed over all these materials to Lezer, the explorer took a quick glance and felt that the man before him was being overly generous, causing him to speak with a hint of embarrassment.
"Mr. Drake, you've already exerted yourself a lot today. Now you're also handling the dissection of the corpses. Even if you take more of the prey, no one will have any complaints."
Lindsey shook his head.
"I've already taken what I need."
The explorer tried to persuade him, "But..."
Lindsey interrupted directly, "I've made up my mind."
Seeing Lindsey's firm attitude, Lezer had no choice but to agree and decided to take better care of him during their journey.
"In that case, you should get some rest too. In the latter half of the night..."
Before Lezer could finish his sentence, Lindsey interrupted again.
The explorer saw the hunter approaching him and whispered in a voice only they could hear, "Actually, while dissecting the corpses, I discovered something."
Lindsey's tone was low and serious, and Lezer immediately sensed that something was amiss. He hurriedly asked, "What did you find?"
Lindsey explained, "When I was handling the snakes' bodies, I noticed they had been affected. It seems that due to the forest's abnormal changes, the animals within are becoming more aggressive."
"..."
Lezer's eyelids twitched.
He paused for a moment before confirming with a bitter tone, "Do you mean that all the life in this forest is becoming as aggressive as those snakes?"
Lindsey shook his head first and then nodded, "Not necessarily all of them, but at least most are like that."
"Sigh," Lezer took a deep breath, "Can you be sure this information is accurate?"
Lindsey replied with utmost seriousness, "This isn't just a guess based on experience, but a conclusion drawn from my skills. The situation is not favorable."
Lezer fell silent.
His explorer's instinct told him that the man before him was not lying.
But if this news was true, the current situation could no longer be described as a mere expedition or a temporary trouble during the journey.
Instead, their team had stumbled into a natural forest filled with hidden traps and enemies! Not to mention the dangers and challenges they would face in combat with these enemies.
Even if they wanted to return to Nine Bays City, the journey back would be a tremendous test of their willpower and physical endurance.
Lezer remained silent, his eyes showing a rare moment of hesitation.
At this moment, Lindsey offered his suggestion, "Lezer, I think we should call off this operation."
"With the forest in its current state, even an Awakened one might not guarantee our safety, let alone with so many ordinary people in our team."
Lezer sighed.
There was a hint of reluctance in his eyes, but he quickly accepted reality and made the most sensible decision, "You're right."
"We've just been through a battle, let's rest tonight and figure out a way to return tomorrow."
Lindsey patted Lezer's shoulder and offered comfort, "We've done our best. It's not your fault, it's just the circumstances."
These words were not mere politeness.
In the few days they had traveled together, Lezer's actions had proven that he was both brave and strategic, and he was a responsible person.
Unfortunately, Lindsey couldn't accompany them back to Nine Bays City.
Whether it was the merchants or the life scholars, he didn't want to provoke them, and besides, Lindsey still needed to treat his injured arm in the forest.
"From now on, the only help I can offer is taking the night watch."
Lindsey returned to the shelter alone.
He grabbed a blanket and casually draped it over his knees. While synthesizing and crafting the materials he had gathered that night, he stared into the campfire and muttered to himself,
"This is the best I can do for you all tonight."
Lindsey casually opened his Hunting Journal.
Tonight's battle also completed a Tier 1 achievement, and the corresponding item is now retrieved.
【Satchel: Python Pouch】
【An incredibly spacious satchel that can hold far more items than an ordinary bag.】
【Achievement item, moderately priced.】
Lindsey attempted to convert the skill.
Just as the product description stated, this pouch had no extra abilities, and its greatest advantage was its immense capacity.
After converting it into the Satchel skill, it even provided 72 slots!
Lindsey nodded in satisfaction:
"That's quite a bit more than before, not bad at all."
"..."
"............"
"There's someone in the river!"
"Quick, pull him out before he gets swept away!"
The second day, early in the morning.
A cry of surprise echoed at the edge of the camp.
The sky was just brightening, and the green morning light filtered through the tree branches, casting distorted shadows on the river's surface.
The only hint of a calm atmosphere in the air was instantly shattered by this shout.
The Awakened ones immediately rushed out of the camp.
In the river, they spotted a person clinging to a floating log, drifting downstream.
Among them, Lindsey reacted the fastest.
He pulled out a vine whip from his satchel and swung it forward, extending the whip by several meters to coil around the person in the river, along with the log, and then pulled them both to the shore.
Lezer hurried over.
He helped the victim up from the ground, their body thoroughly soaked, with multiple bruises and scrapes swollen and softened by the river water.
The only good news was that the man's chest was still rising and falling.
"Mira, come help!"
The explorer shouted.
The female physician in the team rushed over immediately.
Mira took the drowning man from the explorer's embrace, placing one hand on the man's chest and using the other to retrieve some prepared herbs from her satchel.
"Cough..."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The drowning man soon regained consciousness, coughing up a puddle of muddy water.
He stared blankly at the scene before him, his pupils devoid of light, as if he hadn't yet realized his situation.
The female physician then took out a small bottle of Deer Horn Wine, uncorked it, and waved it under the man's nose.
"Ugh!"
The pungent smell instantly snapped the man back to his senses.
He leaned on Mira's arm, dry-heaving for a while, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to breathe.
Although his expression showed that he was in great discomfort, after a few minutes, he regained his basic consciousness.
After a brief pause.
The man turned over, looking at the crowd surrounding him:
"You... you saved me?"
Lezer knelt before him, trying to make his tone as gentle as possible:
"Yes, we saw you floating in the river this morning and came to your rescue."
"There's no need to worry now."
"We have medicine here, so you can rest assured and recuperate. You'll be fine soon."
Lezer skillfully comforted the drowning man.
Afterwards, he also changed the man's clothes to something dry and comfortable and prepared food to offer him.
After a quarter of an hour had passed.
The explorer felt the timing was right, so he asked the man who had finally relaxed:
"Friend, the forest is currently filled with dangers, and it's obviously not suitable for further adventure. We're also preparing to terminate our expedition."
"You must have encountered something upstream, right? Do you mind telling me about it?"
Upon hearing this question.
Fear immediately filled the drowning man's eyes.
However, due to the good treatment he had received earlier, he didn't lose control of his emotions.
The man tightly gripped Lezer's arm.
Shaking, he nodded and shared news that silenced everyone present:
"I'm not from upstream."
"I'm from Nine Bays City. Yes, Nine Bays City! There's a war in Nine Bays City, everything is in chaos!"
(End of Chapter)
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