Xiao Guang's legs gave out, and he plopped down onto the ground. Just a moment ago, through the gaps between the enormous leaves, he had seen a bottomless abyss below. Due to the density of the trees, the ground was shrouded in even deeper shadows, resembling the gaze into an abyss. But if one looked closely and adjusted to the lighting, the ground was still visible, just a bit far below.
At this moment, Old Jin and his daughter were not paying attention to what Xiao Guang was doing. They were discussing how to descend to the ground. The girl seemed quite impatient, displaying some anxiety about being away from the crowd. She suggested wrapping themselves in thick leaves and jumping down while being tied together to prevent separation upon landing. The leaves would cushion the fall, and being tied together would prevent them from becoming separated upon landing.
Lost in thought, Xiao Guang sat on the side, vaguely understanding what was being discussed.
"This is madness. Jumping down? This woman must be crazy," Xiao Guang contemplated, considering the height. He hadn't thought of himself as a miniature human, subconsciously using his own frame of reference. The height was the issue with this place, and the leaves were monstrously gigantic. The issue lay with the world, not himself.
"Now, the only concern is the thickness of the fallen leaves on the ground. Judging from the environment, this forest might have a layer of fallen leaves about half a meter deep. In the past, half a meter would be knee-deep for an adult, but now, it's practically an immeasurable unknown."
The old man analyzed the current situation.
"At the bottom of these leaves, there could be decaying animals or even swampy wetlands. Various insects thrive and prey within them. For them, who are currently extremely weak, it's very dangerous."
"Dad, can't we find a way to fly further away? Like over there," Jun Ya pointed in a direction, "There are bushes and grass, with dry ground."
"No, we can't. No leaf can fly two kilometers without wind. Even if there's wind, it could change direction midway. We wouldn't be able to control our course, and the situation could get worse."
Old Jin pointed in another direction. "Over there, I saw a wetland water area from the eagle's perspective. If we're carried over there by the wind, it would be a disaster for us."
"But there wouldn't be as many insects in the water, and those insects looked really scary," the girl said, inherently afraid of bugs, especially those larger than herself – they were nightmares incarnate. In Jun Ya's mind, as long as she was away from insects, she was safe.
"Insects aren't necessarily frightening. Most of the insects we know are herbivores. Just like how many insects coexist in the soil, big insects don't necessarily prey on smaller ones. Many insects have gentle temperaments; they only feed instinctively. As long as we're not on their common menu, it's generally safe."
Old Jin comforted his daughter, patiently explaining.
"But I'm still scared. They look really disgusting," when there's no danger, basking in the sunlight atop the trees felt comfortable.
"In the water, or on the water's surface, is the most dangerous!" Old Jin continued, "Do you remember the goldfish we used to have? When fish food was sprinkled on the water, regardless of whether it sank or not, the fish would immediately swarm from a distance to feed. If we fall into the water, we'll become those small bugs and fish food on the water's surface."
Jun Ya listened, closing her eyes and ceasing to speak. At this moment, Xiao Guang spoke softly from the side.
"Uh, can't we just stay up here in the trees? Why is that not a good idea?"
"What do you know? You're just afraid to jump down, right? Don't worry, I won't leave you to hang in the trees like a monkey. Just close your eyes, and leave the rest to me."
"Why would staying in the trees make us monkeys? In the beginning, humans lived in trees to avoid predators, right? What was the name of that wise ancestor who invented living in trees?" Xiao Guang pondered for a moment, "Aha, Nestzi!"
Old Jin responded from the side. Despite being an expert in physics, he possessed extensive knowledge and was well-versed in a wide range of subjects. He wasn't only familiar with astronomy and geography, but also held a doctorate in archaeology and had unique insights into music. People often joked in his field that he could teach all subjects by himself, demonstrating their high regard for him.
"What you're saying makes sense too. I was trapped in a conventional way of thinking," Old Jin pondered, "Considering our body shape, the treetops are actually more suitable for our survival. Predatory insects are generally absent up here, and even if they occasionally come up, they might be eaten by birds. Birds won't have an interest in us."
"Right, right, right! I think it's fine, no need to jump down."
"But what if it gets windy? Smarty pants," Jun Ya inquired.
"How about we descend a couple of layers and find a sturdy branch to settle on," Xiao Guang didn't hesitate with his response.
"But what about food and water? I'm starting to feel hungry. Are we going to sit in the tree and starve?"
"What about scavenging bird nests? We could survive on an egg for quite some time. There are also fruits up in the trees; I just saw some. We can definitely eat those," Xiao Guang's reply flowed smoothly.
"Hey, no psychological trauma?"
"Uh..." Xiao Guang subconsciously touched his face, lowering his head to glance at his damp clothes.
"Are you sure a little sparrow won't mistake you for a bug and gobble you up?"
"Jun Ya..." Old Jin intervened, stopping his daughter from further teasing this straightforward young man, then continued addressing Xiao Guang, "You're right. So, please continue sharing your thoughts. Do you have any other ideas?"
"Nothing more," Xiao Guang responded somewhat embarrassed, "I just speak as I think. But I believe we can walk along the trees, eat our fill, and head toward the main group from the treetops. The view would be broad and the visibility far-reaching."
"Yes, quite insightful," Old Jin praised Xiao Guang.
"Insightful, huh? Fools may consider thousands of possibilities to find one solution," Jun Ya muttered.
Xiao Guang felt somewhat embarrassed, glancing around shyly while avoiding direct eye contact with Jun Ya. However, he kept an eye on the girl. How could someone be so good-looking? Even if she rolls her eyes, she still looks stunningly captivating.
"Well said," Old Jin kindly addressed him, "You've identified many blind spots in conventional thinking."
"Blind spots? He's just a blind man fumbling around. He doesn't get it at all," Jun Ya grumbled to herself, her thoughts still fixed on finding a way to travel on the ground.
"Then we should act now; it's getting dark," Old Jin pretended not to hear his daughter's murmuring and surveyed their surroundings.
Jun Ya immediately went over to support her father, as his leg was slightly twisted.
Looking at the father-daughter duo, Xiao Guang hurried over and said, "You're injured, aren't you? Here's the plan: you both sit down first, and I'll scout around nearby. I'll find a densely branched area suitable for descending, and then I'll come back to guide you!"
"Alright," Old Jin pondered briefly and responded efficiently. Sending the young man ahead to scout was quicker and more efficient than leading himself.
"Can you handle this? My dad's leg is hurt, so find a path that's not too steep. Don't be like a blind person, stumbling upon a bunch of holes everywhere, and getting us killed," Jun Ya warned loudly as she saw Xiao Guang dart off. Even though her temper flared up earlier, in this dire situation, she had come to see Xiao Guang as their only straw to clutch onto.
"Understood!" came Xiao Guang's voice from beneath the leaves.
Time always seemed to move slowly for those waiting. Initially, Jun Ya chatted with her father, discussing their plans for the future. With her father's reassurance and encouragement, she began to gradually lose some of her panic. Perhaps in a few more days, they might find their way back. In that world, there were many elites and a brave military force. Maybe within a few days, they could establish a foothold and possibly encounter a rescue team on their way back. The sudden crisis had surely activated that world into finding solutions. It wouldn't take long, with the joint efforts of both sides, for them to return. Life would return to normal, and this experience might even become a highlight of their lives. Listening to her father's calm voice, Jun Ya envisioned the days of their return, thinking of her partner who was currently in the team; he must be anxiously awaiting their return.
After about half an hour, Jun Ya grew impatient. She chatted with her father, periodically looking in the direction Xiao Guang had gone. Old Jin noticed this, but he didn't mention it. He simply redirected the conversation and continued chatting with her.
The distant sunset began to descend, as if the final ray of sunlight was about to be carried away by the sun. The light at the treetops was still sufficient, and the sky remained bright. However, below the trees, darkness was gradually encroaching, with some angles already showing shadows.
Jun Ya paced back and forth near Old Jin, gazing at the sun growing distant in the sky. The graceful curve of her eyebrows became more pronounced, and her face displayed an anxious and worried expression. "Dad, nothing's happened to him, right?"
Old Jin was currently gazing into the distance, but he wasn't admiring the scenery. Instead, he was recalling the terrain he had observed in the sky earlier. Based on the surrounding conditions – the sky, the mountains, the landscape, and even the vegetation – he was trying to determine their current geographical location. Without advanced instruments, he had to use this method to orient himself. However, even someone as knowledgeable and versatile as Old Jin couldn't help but furrow his brow in increasing concern. The terrain, topography, and climate all seemed ordinary and reasonable in every direction, yet also not quite right. Despite scouring his mental maps, he couldn't find a suitable geographical location to correspond with their current surroundings. Could this be an island?
Hearing his daughter's question at this moment, Old Jin momentarily set aside his thoughts. He followed the principle of "solving one major problem at a time" – first ensuring their survival and settling down, then deciding on the next steps.
"He's been gone for about half a day," Old Jin replied. "He should be back by now."
"Yes, he's definitely not the type to run away like I am. I'm afraid he might encounter some trouble and not make it back. This guy is quite naive," Jun Ya's impression of Xiao Guang was actually quite positive, especially after their first meeting. Anyone who was willing to rescue her beloved father couldn't be a bad person. Her teasing of the honest man was more about releasing stress amidst this sudden crisis.
"Yes," Old Jin nodded. "But we can't rashly go look for him either, because if he comes back searching for us and we're not here, what should we do?"
"How about we carve a few words here as a reminder for him, and then try to find him? At the very least, we won't leave this area," Jun Ya suggested.
"Let's wait for another half an hour," Old Jin pondered for a moment. "Half an hour from now will be dusk. We can descend nearby and find a sturdy branch to wait on. Along the way, we can leave marks." Old Jin's consideration was thorough.
"Okay," with her father's plan in mind, Jun Ya felt much more reassured.
After about twenty minutes, Jun Ya started searching for something she could carve into. With no metal items on her, she thought for a moment and then removed a hairpin from her hair.
She began to carve onto the leaves, leaving markings behind.
"Dad, let's go find him," Jun Ya said, pointing to the leaves. "I've carved messages here, here, and there, all with arrows pointing in the direction he went. We can go down from here." Jun Ya pointed to the spot where Xiao Guang had descended earlier. Apparently, Jun Ya had been productive during her waiting time, carving messages onto many leaves and even drawing arrows to indicate directions.
"Alright," Old Jin walked over, and Jun Ya hurriedly went to support him.
"Dad, be careful!"
"Mhm." Looking at his well-behaved daughter, Old Jin felt both gratified and somewhat melancholic. Jun Ya had idolized him like a deity since she was little. She insisted on accompanying him to the research institute this time, and her mother couldn't persuade her otherwise, so they had agreed. As for himself, he hadn't seen his daughter for half a year, so of course, he missed her. He had agreed without hesitation, never expecting such a significant turn of events.
Observing Jun Ya's seemingly nonchalant attitude, Old Jin realized his daughter had complete trust in him. However, he was well aware of the responsibility he bore. Bringing her back safely wasn't going to be easy. How could he bear the guilt if anything happened to her? How could he explain this to his wife? Right now, their family members and the organization on their side were probably all frantic. The military must be conducting an extensive search.
Just as the father-daughter duo were supporting each other to move, a sudden change occurred. A gust of wind unexpectedly swept in. The leaves danced in the wind, catching the unprepared duo off guard. They were thrown backward onto the leaves, then rolled onto other leaves.
Soon, the top branches of the trees began to sway. The slight tremor felt like tumultuous waves for those atop. The situation turned critical in an instant. The tumbling pair was on the brink of being swept away. However, where they might land amidst the leaves was purely left to fate.
Jun Ya panicked immediately, gripping Old Jin's hand tightly. "Dad, Dad—" her voice carried a hint of crying.
Despite Old Jin's wealth of knowledge, he found himself without a solution in this dire moment. He could only hold onto his daughter's hand firmly. At their most critical juncture, a leaf suddenly lifted, revealing the head of a massive green insect. Its large eyes resembled enormous glass beads, and its long antennae swayed slightly, invoking fear.
Seeing the insect crawl up, Old Jin froze for less than a second before it sprinted straight toward the unsteady pair. As he looked at this giant green insect, a chill ran down his spine, and he momentarily forgot to think. He simply held onto his daughter's hand even tighter. A surge of despair and anger washed over him. What was this monstrosity? They were done for.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, a shout came from the insect's body. "Old Jin, Jun Ya, grab onto the vine and pull yourselves up!"
A head emerged from behind the insect's head, its face smeared with green and red fluid. It stared wide-eyed in a dazed manner. It was Xiao Guang's face. He had a rope tied around his waist, connected to the insect. His body was a mess of blue, white, and black stains. In his hand was an unknown vine, which he tossed toward them. "Hold onto the vine, I'll pull you up!"