"Attention, everyone! Disperse in a fan formation," Li Ji commanded loudly.
This had already been the umpteenth time they encountered such a situation. During these past few days of travel, occasional tremors would emanate from the ground. Nights were somewhat better; they found rocks with holes and plugged the openings, spending the nights within the stone chambers. However, during the daytime march, they would occasionally feel these vibrations coming from the ground, like a large creature running or as if the very earth was shaking, making them somewhat uneasy.
As usual, after about half an hour, the tremors subsided.
Li Ji, his face full of frustration, surveyed his surroundings. With a wave of his hand, the group resumed its journey. This strange phenomenon had occurred seven or eight times in a day. What was going on with this land?
In the evening, the group reached a high ground. This area was somewhat barren, with solid ground packed almost like rammed earth. There was almost no vegetation that could survive here; it was as if the soil was compacted to an extreme degree.
Su Lao and a group of scientific personnel ascended the height, their purpose not merely to enjoy the view. Bathed in the glow of the lingering sunset, armed with basic equipment, they measured the terrain and recorded data. Simultaneously, they estimated the position of the base and pondered the next route.
"Look here, the direction of the base should be this way, but there's a stretch of sandy land ahead."
"I don't recommend going this way. The dangers of the sand are even greater than those of the jungle."
"But have you noticed? There seems to be a river on the other side of the jungle."
"Considering the vegetation there, it does seem likely that there's a stream or river. If it's blocking our path, that would complicate things."
"What about through the middle of the valley?"
"Not suitable at all, that's the most impassable route."
"Should we venture into the forest and then climb the trees to proceed?"
"Not feasible. According to Xiao Guang's map information, the forest canopy isn't that dense, making it easy for people to fall. Moreover, the probability of encountering gaps between trees is high, which might force us to descend."
"That leaves us with the risky option of crossing the sandy area."
Under Su Lao's leadership, the technical team eventually settled on the route through the sand. Next, they discussed the concrete implementation with Li Ji and the other commanders. They needed to be fully prepared before setting out, ready to face potential threats, whether from living beings or natural dangers.
Once Li Ji had the group settled, the night became the time for collective meetings and discussions.
Inside the tent constructed from giant dried leaves, a few people sat in a circle. The flames cast dancing shadows on their faces, each person weighed down by their own thoughts.
Fire, forever a symbol of civilized humanity. The islanders had endured a year without fire. It wasn't that they couldn't create fire; it was the lack of materials to ignite it. On the rocky islet, there were only moss and seaweed. The limited resources were scavenged from seabirds, consisting of dry twigs and feathers used to build makeshift nests – exceedingly precious materials.
Back then, even food was consumed as cold fish slices. Looking back now, they couldn't fathom how they had endured. To acquire some vitamins, they chewed various types of seaweed and grasses from the rocky shore, finally discovering edible seaweed. So, besides the monotonous raw fish, each person's diet now included a small amount of seaweed.
As they returned to the mainland, every member of the team felt the weight of their journey. They had fire, hot food, and access to resources beyond fish. Unfortunately, the person who had guided them back seemed to be lost forever, which was why the team's morale had remained subdued. They pressed on, heads down, eating in silence, using hot drinks to warm their stomachs and fire to dispel the darkness, but they couldn't help but remember the individual who had brought all this to them.
The calm leap he took, in that single moment, etched him as a hero for eternity, shining like a comet in the night sky. The figure now resting in the cold depths of the sea became a sigh and a lament, transforming the once wandering young man into a towering presence within the hearts of many. On the tumultuous beach, people gazed to the distant horizon, uncertain of when he would return.
There was no memorial monument for Xiao Guang on the beach. People firmly believed he must still be alive, perhaps returning unexpectedly one day, ready to join in merry celebrations.
Torches lit up the camp, standing out conspicuously against the backdrop of the massive compacted earth mound.
"Perhaps we are the first humans to kindle a bonfire on this compacted soil, these microscopic humans."
"Maybe," Su Lao said, looking up at the sky. "Ever since I shrank, I've often looked up at the sky and strangely felt closer to it."
"Maybe indeed. Back in the day, I never really bothered to look at the sky," Ma Lao said thoughtfully. "It's still the same sky, but we're just clueless about where exactly we are!"
"We're together," Li Ji interjected. "We're alive, and that's enough. The dangers of the sand are obvious, but we must cross it, and we will make it through alive!"
"Well, now that we've shrunk, we can only lower our heads and march. Our field of view is so limited, it's hard to anticipate dangers. Without guns or cannons, facing this environment is quite frustrating," Ma Lao replied.
"I suggest we stay here for a while, develop our weaponry and equipment properly, and study solutions to deal with the dangers. When we're fully prepared, then we can continue forward."
"Makes sense. Faced with the unknown, we can't risk any more!"
While the group discussed, Su Lao remained silent, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames before him. The flames danced, a myriad of life within them. Suddenly, Su Lao burst into hearty laughter, baffling everyone momentarily. What had come over Su Lao?
"It's alright, it's alright. I have a way to quickly traverse the sandy area and return to the base," Su Lao said, pausing his laughter and looking at the bewildered faces around him. There was an apologetic expression on his face, but he couldn't help but be filled with a broad smile.
"All along, we— including the base— have been trapped in conventional thinking. We originate from modern society, live in modern society, and consider ourselves modern technological elites. Consequently, we believe we need guns, cannons, and modern weaponry to handle animals larger and fiercer than us."
"However, the truth is not so. Long ago, during the period when humanity lacked guns and firearms, we were still the rulers of this planet."
"We turned the tide with our primitive weapons, using our wisdom to conquer forests and explore the oceans."
"Throughout the vast river of history, outstanding individuals have bequeathed us precious knowledge and wealth. Countless inventions and creations were born in those times. They might not be modern technology, yet they are in no way inferior!"
"Because we have witnessed humanity's growth, we have been obsessed with developing modern technology, believing only it can conquer this primal forest and make us strong."
"But in reality, we've all been mistaken. Some ancient methods have been used before, and we can use them too, boldly use them to swiftly conquer this land." Su Lao said with confidence.