The night was deep, and the campfire brought light to the camp.
From time to time, the crackling sound of burning branches was heard, accompanied by sparks flying into the sky.
This camp was not sturdy; although a fence had been hastily set up, it was done too quickly, and the fence was too short to provide much defensive power against a beast's charge. At most, it offered some psychological comfort to the members of the exploration team.
The real defense measures were the numerous traps set around the camp.
If beasts attacked, these traps would pose obstacles and create loud noises to alert the people in the camp.
Of course, night watchmen were also arranged around the camp to provide another layer of security.
Usually, most members of the exploration team would have gone to sleep at this time, but tonight no one felt like sleeping.
Many people gathered around the campfire, talking to each other.
The abilities of the Flying Squirrel leader and the food shortage faced by the exploration team were well known.
"In this situation, what should we do?"
"Food is the most important thing! Without food, we don't need any Magic Beasts; we'll all starve to death. No one is an exception because no one can go without eating or drinking."
"I think we should kill these flying squirrels. Even if the Flying Squirrel leader is strong, the majority of the flying squirrels are just ordinary beasts."
"Hmph, if you think that way, you'll be waiting to die. As long as the Flying Squirrel leader bites your flesh and releases an electric shock, you'll be dead. Even if the Flying Squirrel leader is rare, our people are not many, and we can't afford for it to kill us all."
"Looking back now, it's really scary. During the day, that Flying Squirrel leader was no more than five steps away from me; luckily, it died at Lord Zhenjin's hands."
"Can the Flying Squirrel leader really release electric shocks?" someone expressed doubt.
But when he heard that it was Cang Xu's deduction, no one doubted it anymore.
"In this way, it still owes to Lord Zhenjin! If it weren't for him killing the Flying Squirrel leader with one strike, we would have certainly suffered casualties."
"In my opinion, this beast group should not be touched. Perhaps next, we'll come across a better source of food. So, let's take a detour. Also, finding the main force might be good."
"Hah, your thinking is too naive. Does the main force necessarily have food? Don't forget, we were sent out by the main force to explore the surroundings and search for food!"
"To return to the beach where we started and meet up with the main force, we don't know how long the journey will take. Along the way, we are likely to encounter even more powerful Magic Beasts."
"In the end, how long can our food last?"
Cang Xu lay inside the tent, listening to the voices outside. Looking at the tent's top, he knew very clearly: the remaining food could support them for at most seven days!
But at this moment, Cang Xu was more worried about the team's condition.
Everyone had their own ideas, and the team's morale was scattered, each with their own opinions. At this time, a leader was needed to make a final decision.
However, although Zhenjin was in charge, his authority as a leader had not yet deeply rooted in people's hearts.
The issue with the lamb seemed like an event that could boost Zhenjin's leadership prestige, but it resulted in the entire team being poisoned, causing disturbances without securing enough food.
Therefore, Zhenjin couldn't consolidate his authority.
"So, we'll see this time," Cang Xu thought.
To be fair, this was not a good opportunity.
However, reality was always like this: it was cold and ruthless, always presenting accidents and problems straightforwardly, never as hoped. People were often caught off guard and couldn't force things to happen.
Whether it was Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu himself, or the entire exploration team, they had been cornered by reality.
"Only by overcoming this harsh reality can you truly take charge of this team. So, Zhenjin, young leader, what will your decision be?"
With this question in mind, Cang Xu slowly fell asleep.
"What should I decide?" Zhenjin fell into deep thought.
As a leader, he didn't have the luxury to escape, only to bear the responsibility!
"The team is currently short on food. Dealing with the flying squirrels is a way to obtain food. But the risk is high; the exploration team's combat power is inadequate. Suffering electric shocks from the Flying Squirrel leader will undoubtedly result in heavy casualties."
"But I need a great victory. An overwhelming victory is the ideal outcome. If it's merely a narrow victory with significant casualties, it will surely disappoint the remaining people, undermining their expectations of my leadership."
"Moreover, the exploration team's size isn't large. If there are too many casualties, how can the remaining people help me compete for the position of White Sand City Lord?"
Apart from this choice, Zhenjin understood he had another option.
"That is to abandon this colony of flying squirrels, continue exploring, and hope to find a better food source in the future."
"This choice could keep the team temporarily stable, but the current food supply can only last for up to seven days. What happens next is hard to say."
"It could be a weaker beast group, or we might encounter a terrifying Magic Beast, leading to the exploration team's destruction."
"If the food is strictly controlled and reduced as much as possible, it could last more than ten days."
"But doing so carries significant risks."
"Once food starts to run out, people will panic, and they might even start guarding against and hunting each other, resorting to cannibalism for survival!"
"My prestige cannot yet suppress such sentiments. If this happens, the team will collapse into chaos rather than disintegration."
"It's not just me, Zi Di would also be implicated!"
As Zhenjin pondered, a thought suddenly popped up.
This thought was so bold and terrifying that it startled Zhenjin himself—"If we were driven to a desperate situation, to survive, would I kill others and eat human flesh?"
"No, how could that be! If I did that, how would I be different from those beasts and livestock!? I am a Holy Temple Knight."
Zhenjin felt deeply ashamed.
The Holy Temple Knight represented light and courage, always charging at the front on the battlefield, upholding justice, safeguarding kindness, and protecting the weak in life.
"It turns out, being a leader is so difficult. I must be going crazy; otherwise, how could such a terrible thought come to me?"
At this moment, Zhenjin truly felt that being a leader was not easy.
A leader had to shoulder responsibility, not betray subordinates' trust, find the correct path in times of confusion, and lead everyone out of trouble.
Moreover, Zhenjin carried more burdens.
He thought of Zi Di. In his view, his fiancée had always trusted him, protected him with all her might, and stayed by his side.
He thought of his family, his one-armed father. He couldn't die; becoming the White Sand City Lord was a crucial step in revitalizing the Hundred Needle Family.
There was also his noble pride and the honor of being a Holy Temple Knight...
As he pondered, Zhenjin's frown deepened, his chest felt stuffy, and he even felt suffocated.
His tent was the largest, but at that moment, it seemed like a giant beast's claw, constantly constricting, as if strangling Zhenjin.
Zhenjin resisted the immense pressure, the voices outside the tent gradually faded as most of the exploration team members entered their tents to sleep. Zhenjin, however, felt the pressure growing heavier.
It was unknown how long it lasted. Zhenjin lightly gasped, suddenly bending over, and helplessly sat on the military rug, leaning against the tent's sole wooden pillar.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
Zhenjin panted heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.
He felt an intense fatigue, not physical but an immense mental exhaustion.
"What should I do?" Zhenjin was still confused and troubled.
Subconsciously, he knelt on one knee and began praying again.
"Holy Emperor, my God, Your gaze soars above the clouds, and no mist can stop Your strides. You hold the reins of a vast empire, leading billions to victory. You are so wise, so decisive, and can see through the threads of destiny."
"Now, Your loyal and humble believer prays to You. Please show me the way, clear the mists of fate for me, protect me, so I can uphold the pride of Nobles and the honor of Knights."
However, the deity did not respond.
Zhenjin waited.
He fervently wished for the deity's response.
Time silently and continuously passed.
It was a long wait.
Zhenjin knelt, head lowered, facing the direction of the Holy Bright Empire.
It was a stubborn wait.
In this prayer, Zhenjin exhibited unprecedented patience.
But in the end, as the cold breath of the late night seeped through the tent's cracks, entering Zhenjin's nostrils, permeating his skin, and penetrating his heart,
Zhenjin's heart seemed to cool, his hopeful heart plummeted.
Zhenjin realized the cruel reality— the deity still had not responded, and he would not receive any instruction from the Holy Emperor.
The tent in the dead of night was filled with darkness, not a sliver of light.
The young Zhenjin knelt on the ground, like a statue.
After a long time, the statue sighed, stopped kneeling, and struggled to stand.
His legs and feet were numb, and Zhenjin stomped his feet, loosening his muscles.
His eyes were vacant, his heart heavy. He knew, he could only rely on himself.
Without divine guidance, the road ahead was shrouded in darkness.
But he had to move forward!
Staying still only meant waiting for death, and would disappoint everyone.
Life was like this.
People often had to make decisions under unknown circumstances, pushed by life, knowing how reckless these choices were! And yet, people had to endure the results of their choices, whether bitter or sweet.
Zhenjin could only continue to ponder.
Strangely, this time, he did not feel the previous embarrassment.
As if he broke through a limit, perhaps because the deity did not respond, he fully understood that no one could be relied upon.
As dawn approached, the forest's bird songs increased, making Zhenjin suddenly realize an entire night had passed.
He lifted the tent flap and saw the sunrise.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining in the half-dark forest. Morning fog lingered in the forest; the air felt wet and cold, but Zhenjin breathed in and felt refreshed.
At the moment he opened the tent flap, he was the wise and valiant leader who saw everything clearly, making the best decisions.
Even if he knew he was not, he had to play the part convincingly!
His face showed no hesitation; he had made his decision.
The team was quickly assembled to hear Zhenjin issue a series of orders.
"Lan Zao, in the next few days, continue your stealth, find out more information about the flying squirrel colony."
"Huang Zao, Bai Ya, Cang Xu, you are in charge of selecting wood. We need to make a batch of short bows."
"Zi Di, I need you to prepare potions, ones that hopefully will work on the Flying Squirrel leader too."
Yes, Zhenjin had decided to hunt this colony of flying squirrels.