```
Suddenly hearing a cry for help, Zhenjin's pupils contracted.
"Someone is trapped in a spider web."
"He's still alive!" Zhenjin frowned.
"I am a knight, saving lives and helping the weak is one of my knightly creeds."
"Stay calm," the young knight warned himself immediately.
He stopped his retreat, carefully observed, then changed direction, cautiously re-entering the spiders' hunting ground.
He didn't step into any spider web traps. After adjusting his position, he looked up and discovered the spider web where the voice had called for help.
The web was gently trembling, tightly wrapping the prey, which was clearly outlined as a human figure.
On the person's face, the spider web was loosely wound, leaving gaps, making it barely possible to see.
This unlucky fellow hung high in the air, with a broad view from above, and immediately saw Zhenjin, crying out for help.
"Please, help me!"
"If you leave, I'll be dead for sure!"
"Aren't you from the Pig Kiss too? We're from the same ship. Please, have a heart, don't go, don't abandon me..."
Hearing this, Zhenjin's heart stirred slightly. He had learned a lot from Zi Di, and it was true their ship was the Pig Kiss.
It seemed this trapped person must be a member of the Pig Kiss.
Zhenjin did not act.
Rushing to rescue might put him in danger, and it might even further endanger Zi Di.
He stood still, gazing at the suspended man, while also keeping an eye on the spiders hidden in the treetops.
He had to make sure this wasn't a trap!
Zhenjin's muscles tensed, ready to react at the slightest movement.
But the spiders made no move.
After begging for a while without seeing any action from Zhenjin, the trapped person started to realize and continued to cry softly, "Don't doubt me."
"When those beasts fall into the spider web, they struggle desperately. The more they struggle, the more webs stick to their bodies, the tighter the spiders weave, and they eventually suffocate to death."
"I didn't."
"I fainted and then got wrapped up by the spider web, that's why I'm still alive now."
"Please, save me. I don't want to die..."
At this point, the person pleaded in low sobs.
Trapped in a spider web, unable to move, witnessing death closing in step by step, the fear was almost unbearable, nearly driving him mad.
This genuine display of human fear made Zhenjin believe him a bit more.
The fear of death was a part of every living being. Even though he was a knight, brave enough to face and fight a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear head-on, Zhenjin still had feelings of fear.
Fear did not imply weakness. Facing fear constantly, was true bravery.
"Still no reaction? It seems these spiders don't hunt by sound," Zhenjin speculated, deciding to take a slight risk.
He called out softly, "Hey, what's your name?"
The trapped person immediately became excited: "My name is Huang Zao, sir, I am Huang Zao, a sailor from the Pig Kiss. Kind sir, benevolent sir, if you save me, I will repay your kindness with my life!"
Most of Zhenjin's attention was still on the treetops. After speaking, the spiders remained still, easing some of his worries and confirming his previous guess.
"So, Huang Zao, how can I save you?" Zhenjin asked again.
This question was critical; he needed to confirm Huang Zao's intentions and gather more information.
So far, he still had doubts.
Could these spiders be deliberately keeping their prey alive to lure in others from their group?
Or were they just waiting for Zhenjin to bring more humans to rescue, setting a trap?
Faced with Zhenjin's question, Huang Zao replied quickly, "Sir, you mustn't act rashly! These spiders drop to the ground at night to lay webs. The webs are buried underground, and if stepped on, the trap will spring. The web will lift high, the spiders will weave, and the prey will be suspended in midair."
"No matter how loudly I shout, no spider will move. But if I struggle and shake the webs above me, it will attract spiders to reweave the web. So, once I am freed, the spiders will definitely come."
"Each of these spiders is a Bronze-level creature, incredibly powerful. There are at least a dozen spiders nearby!"
"Their pounce is as powerful as a horse's charge. I wasn't careful and got knocked into the air by a spider, hitting a tree trunk and blacking out immediately."
"When I groggily opened my eyes, I was already suspended in midair, and the exploration team was utterly defeated. The survivors were fleeing, but these spiders also cooperate. They don't just lay webs on the ground; two or three can weave a larger web in the air together. They drop from above with the web and capture prey directly."
"These webs are incredibly sticky. You need very sharp swords and skilled techniques to cut through them. My brother Lan Zao, the exploration team captain, is an expert swordsman. I saw with my own eyes that when his sword got entangled with the web, it significantly slowed down, and he couldn't cut through the web."
"Use fire!"
"In the end, they used fire to burn the webs and escape. These spiders are quite afraid of fire. I wanted to call for help, but I was too groggy to shout or even keep my eyes open. I heard their shouts and then passed out again."
"When I woke up, there was no firelight left, only me alone."
Zhenjin listened intently, analyzing the information.
After a while, he asked again, "Your name is Huang Zao, right? How many of you are there, why did you come here? Aside from your group, are there other survivors? When were you attacked?"
Huang Zao did not hesitate and quickly replied, "The Pig Kiss wrecked. That night, the waves were huge. We tried our best to control it, but the ship still broke in half. The front part of the ship crashed onto the rocks, and the survivors landed on the beach. Including our group, there were about a hundred people."
"The captain went missing, the first officer took command."
"This island is strange, low-level magic and fighting energy don't work."
"We set up a temporary camp on the beach. The first officer assigned my brother and I, along with others, to explore the island for materials to build a new ship, food, and fresh water."
"The jungle is full of dangers; we encountered many bizarre beasts. We lost many people in the exploration team with little to show for it. We couldn't hold on any longer and decided to head back."
"On our way back, the terrain changed!"
"It was a rainforest, but somehow we ended up in a desert."
"Many thought it was an illusion, but we couldn't escape it, and panic set in. Some even committed suicide. The team fell into chaos."
"Food and water ran out quickly. I thought the entire team was doomed. Thankfully, an elderly scholar named Cang Xu, who once served a desert noble, joined our team. He found a way through the desert, found an oasis, and resupplied us with fresh water. We rested for several days there before moving on. Our luck turned, we reached the edge of the desert and finally entered this forest."
"When we got here, we were ambushed by the spider horde. Most escaped, but five or six died. I heard my brother's call to retreat but he didn't realize I was missing, so he didn't come back for me. In fact, I was captured by the spiders, used as stored food, but I'm still alive!"
Huang Zao spoke with agitation.
Zhenjin remained silent.
Huang Zao calmed down and continued, "I don't know how many days have passed. I have no idea how long I've been unconscious. When I regained consciousness, three days and two nights had already passed."
"For the sake of the Holy Emperor, save me, sir. We are from the same ship! You are my only hope. Please, I will repay your kindness with all my might!"
Huang Zao pleaded again.
"There's actually a desert here?" Zhenjin was puzzled.
"Sir, I did not lie to you, absolutely not!" Huang Zao's voice rose, "I know, I know, it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. We really entered the desert, then mysteriously came here."
Zhenjin nodded slightly, calming him, "I will do my best to save you. But I can't do it alone. I need to go back and bring more people. Do you have any way to contact the others?"
"I have a whistle, its sound carries far, but it's in my pocket. Besides that, I know semaphore, standing in a high place, I can signal with flags," Huang Zao quickly replied.
Seeing Zhenjin's silence, he added, "Code, right, I also have code! We discussed leaving codes along the way. Following the codes, you can find my brother's team!"
Zhenjin looked at the sky.
It was quickly darkening; dusk was approaching.
"Wait a moment, I will return," Zhenjin turned and left.
"Sir, I'll wait for you. Please, don't forget me, don't abandon me! You are my only hope. I'll repay you!" Huang Zao's cries continued in the background.
Zhenjin walked far away, and behind him, Huang Zao's calls didn't cease.
His voice was hoarse, filled with fear and anxiety, yet heavy with hope.
After all, Zhenjin was his only chance for survival.
What to say?
The young knight empathized.
Life was so precious, so Zhenjin cherished it. Not long ago, he faced death before Fire Poison and the Brown Bear.
In his cycles of unconsciousness and awakening, he too felt helpless, scared, worried, but also hopeful, sincerely repentant.
Huang Zao's hope weighed heavily on Zhenjin's shoulders.
How to save him?
How to face so many spiders, at least a dozen Bronze-level beasts?
Many questions stood before Zhenjin. He slightly shook his head, eyes determined, "No matter what, I must reunite with Zi Di first."
Soon, the young knight successfully reunited with the girl.
In fact, after separating, the girl had been chasing after Zhenjin. The Scale-Horned Black Panther wasn't fast, so the gap between them wasn't wide.
"No danger?" Zhenjin asked.
"No. Don't worry, I am not completely defenseless." Zi Di nodded, then patted the small leather pouch at her waist with a proud expression.
"I found some new information," Zhenjin briefly recounted what happened and asked for her opinion.
Zi Di thought for a moment before responding, "Sir, I suggest you save him."
Zhenjin was inclined to agree, but he wanted to hear Zi Di's true thoughts. So, he asked, "Can you explain your reasoning?"
Zi Di answered earnestly, "Sir, according to what you said, he has a Bronze-level aura. At the Bronze level, one is already a lower-tier elite, usually serving as a sailor on a ship. Some can even become assault leaders. This person alone is worth recruiting. If you save him, he is very likely to serve you."
"In addition, he has a brother. His brother Lan Zao is the exploration team captain, a higher position, proving greater strength. Winning over Huang Zao could also bring his brother Lan Zao, that's two Bronze-level elites. They would bring a group of followers, if those two join us, sir, you could gain many subordinates."
"We need manpower. Even without considering future control over White Sand City, these people can increase our survival chances on this island. Sometimes, escaping a danger only requires running faster than your companion."
Saying this, Zi Di's eyes gleamed.
Zhenjin nodded, "Anything else?"
Zi Di continued, "We also need information. So, even if they don't join you, just communicating with them can expand our map and deepen our understanding of this island."
"According to Huang Zao, the main group is building a rescue ship. This is our most reliable way off this island and to White Sand City. But even if we have a ship, we need a crew to sail it."
"Navigating the open sea for months requires a captain, deputy officer, navigator, sailors, helmsman, ship carpenter, gunner, ship doctor, and lookout."
"Rescuing these people can ensure our subsequent journey is safer and faster."
Zhenjin and Zi Di couldn't control a sea ship themselves.
"But saving him requires facing at least a dozen Bronze spiders..." Zhenjin pondered.
"Sir, I already have a plan," Zi Di smiled, "Trust me, if the cost outweighed the gain, I wouldn't propose this."
Zhenjin smiled, "Haha, worthy of being the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce's current chairman!"
The young knight looked at Zi Di admiringly, his expression turning serious.
"You're right. But you forgot the most important thing."
Zi Di stifled her smile, respectfully bowing her head, "Please instruct me, sir."
"I am a Holy Temple Knight, a knight of knights. Helping the weak, saving lives is my creed! Even in dire times, I will not abandon a companion," his firm words echoed in the quiet woods.
For a moment, Zi Di looked at the young knight, then smiled, "I understand, sir."
```