Hi, sunshine, ahem you are my sunshine...I don't know where I heard this from.
Anyway did you see the gift? ( For those who don't realize, I got a contract..yay )
This way, I won't disappear for 10 days like the last time. To be honest am a little bit lazy author. So this is a good thing, right?
PS: don't react about me giving myself a 🍕
(╥﹏╥) (Fake tears)...all this cause no one did invite me for dinner.🤧
Anyway, hope you enjoy today's chapter.
Aah, one last thing: if you are bothered by those notes of mine in the chapters, just say so, and I'll stop; after all, I love my dear readers and will listen to their requests.
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The ten participants were considered the weakest here. Why? Because they were just athletes or ordinary people. Even if they had six-pack abs, none of them had ever seen blood in their lives. Surviving and fighting terrorists who had tasted blood and spent their lives on the battlefield would be far more challenging for them. Of course, Michael Cheng was an exception, as he was a retired soldier. Yet, his combat capabilities remained unknown.
If you're wondering about Sian, he certainly wasn't "weak." On the contrary, he possessed skills and experience far superior even to those of special forces soldiers. But Sian was still debating whether he should kill in this situation. Even if they were terrorists, killing was killing, and he feared he might end up imprisoned immediately after, assuming he could even make it out of the jungle alive. Moreover, Sian didn't have the mindset of a heroic vigilante obsessed with justice. Why would he risk himself for people he barely knew? He wasn't stupid, after all. Sitting back and waiting for the military to rescue them seemed like the most logical option.
Sian glanced at Lan Qisheng, then stood, brushing the dust off his clothes. His voice was calm yet resonated clearly with everyone. It was a beautiful voice—expected of someone who was originally a singer. Yet, the words he spoke were devoid of emotion, indifferent to life and death, and sharply contrasted with such an angelic and warm tone. Slowly, he said, "What are you all arguing about? First, I don't need anyone evaluating my skills, nor do I care if none of you like me or even insult me. Honestly, words like that don't stir even a fraction of my emotions." He shot Marco a shallow smile.
Then, shifting his gaze to Lan Qisheng, who had somehow moved to stand behind him, Sian added, "Also, I'm not a soldier, nor do I carry some noble duty to protect others, sacrifice myself, or help anyone without something in return. I prefer living for myself and dying for myself. Even if I do have the strength and skills, as you claim, why should I risk my life for people I don't even know? I'm not anyone's family, friend, lover, or debtor. So why should I put myself in harm's way to save you?"
Every word Sian spoke struck the hearts of those who heard him—whether the people beside him or the viewers watching the live broadcast at that very moment.
Sian's words were true, but they were also something better left unsaid. Just as some shameful aspects of human nature should remain hidden, some truths and emotions weren't meant to see the light.
Of course, people prioritize themselves above all else. For instance, when the bear attacked earlier, everyone scrambled to save their own lives. If the bear had caught someone, no one would have even attempted to help. People value their own lives above all. However, no one dared to openly admit this in front of millions of viewers.
But who was Sian? Public opinion was the last thing he cared about. Could their opinions feed him? Save him? Bring him back to life if he dies? Absolutely not.
So why should he bother trying to leave a good impression on them?
"Instead of wasting time on pointless debates, we should move. It'll get dark in about three hours, maybe less, and I wouldn't recommend sleeping out in the open when we don't know what animals those terrorist bastards have released in this jungle." Sian said, stretching and preparing to move.
He cast a fleeting glance at Lan Qisheng's team and noticed the five soldiers had already buried the deceased participant. They had erected a makeshift grave marker and stood before it, praying for his soul.
[Well, these soldiers are genuinely good people. They clearly have a strong sense of responsibility and a drive to protect others. Earlier they shielded the participants, placing themselves at the rear to face the bear if it followed them… Doesn't matter. I just hope this ordeal ends soon. I want a nice hot bath and a comfortable bed.
After a brief discussion and reorganizing their gear, the remaining 17 people started moving. As expected, Lan Qisheng and his team formed a defensive circle, keeping the remaining participants in the center for protection. Sian nearly laughed out loud when Zhao Ling approached him and suggested he walk inside the circle for extra safety. This boy had a sharp tongue but a genuinely kind heart.
Two hours of trekking later, darkness had engulfed them. They could still see faintly but had already turned on their flashlights. Earlier, they had agreed they desperately needed a place to stay the night. Tomorrow, they would decide whether to continue toward the planned cabin or try finding another route, though escaping the jungle wasn't an option. Liam had made that clear when he threatened to kill everyone if they deviated from the show's script.
For now, everyone followed Liu Weiji, who was an expert in survival and wilderness skills. His title was well-deserved; after another fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at the entrance of a large cave. From the outside, it seemed spacious enough to accommodate all of them.
Just as some participants cheered and prepared to run toward the soft grass within the cave, Sian's voice rang out: "Step back."
Almost simultaneously, Lan Qisheng shouted, "Prepare for combat!"
The ten civilian participants were utterly confused. They didn't see anything unusual around them. Why were these soldiers on high alert? Lan Qisheng and his team surrounded the group, forming a defensive formation.
Silence blanketed the area for a few seconds. Some began doubting there was any real danger, and even the live audience started commenting:
"What's going on? I don't see anything. Why is Lan Qisheng so tense?"
"How would you know? That man's a seasoned soldier. He must've noticed something."
"Hey, upstairs, do you know those soldiers? Are they really that strong?"
"Of course, they are. I know their captain personally—he's the best."
"Did anyone notice that Sian warned everyone before Lan Qisheng acted?"
"Yes, yes! Finally, someone else noticed. This Sian doesn't seem ordinary. From the first moment I saw him, I had this feeling that he wasn't normal. Even the commander sought his help… there's definitely something suspicious about him."
"I just hope everyone can survive and that the military can save all the people in the forest."
"I hope so too."
+1
+1
...
Back at the military base in City B, soldiers crowded around screens watching the live broadcast. Those on duty worked diligently, but those off-duty couldn't tear themselves away from the feed. Not only the army but also civilians nationwide were glued to their screens. Director Han, who managed the show, would probably faint from joy if he saw the viewing numbers—over 20 million live viewers. That wasn't a small figure, especially considering that this was a record for a mere variety show.
This crisis had captivated the nation. Schools paused classes, shops closed early, and even some companies granted their employees a day off…
As Sian had said before, there is always darkness in the human heart, but that doesn't mean there isn't light as well. Many people despise the sight of blood and death; they long for peace and safety, not just for themselves but for others too.
Sian observed his surroundings cautiously. Each time he turned his head to the side, his beautiful black hair fluttered under the moonlight, with a few strands gleaming faintly in silvery white.
Lan Qisheng was so mesmerized that he forgot to stay alert, his focus entirely on the captivating figure before him. It wasn't just Sian's appearance—there was something else, something that pulled him toward this seemingly fragile yet undeniably strong teenager. Perhaps it started when his amber eyes, cold yet piercing, met Lan Qisheng's gaze on the helicopter. Or maybe it was when that soda can landed in front of him, paired with an assessing look from those deep eyes.
Lan Qisheng couldn't pinpoint when it began, but the thought of possessing this youth had taken root deep within him, growing stronger with each passing moment. And truth be told, he didn't want to uproot it. If anything, he wanted it to flourish. He desired Sian, and Lan Qisheng had always gotten what he wanted. But this was the first time he had ever wanted someone so desperately. He was addicted to this feeling.
Suddenly, something dark leaped out of the shadows toward Lan Qisheng, who remained frozen, his predatory gaze still locked on Sian.
Sian had long noticed Lan Qisheng's lingering stares but chose to ignore them. However, when he saw the black mass flying toward the oblivious man who stood motionless, his veins throbbed with anger.
[This idiot! Isn't he supposed to be the strongest on his team? How the hell does a soldier get distracted on a battlefield? Does he have a death wish?]
Despite his inner thoughts, Sian couldn't allow such a person to die. Lan Qisheng was strong—maybe even stronger than him. Sian could feel it, and that strength was necessary. Not just for protecting these people, but for protecting himself as well. He had no desire to fight anyone here—at least, that was the plan. Though, in truth, that plan would crumble soon enough, and Sian ended up fighting… and killing.
Just as Sian was about to step forward to save the reckless man, Ren Yi, who was standing beside Lan Qisheng, moved first. With a spinning kick, he sent the black mass flying back toward the cave entrance where it had emerged.
Of course, it wasn't "just a small ball." It was more like an enormous lump of shadow.
As the clouds parted and the moonlight illuminated the cave entrance, several sharp eyes reflected the light. Huge jaws and razor-sharp claws were poised, ready to tear apart anything in their path.
A pack of wolves emerged, snarling and snapping their way toward Sian and the others.
Everyone stood frozen in fear—not because of the wolves' size, nor their species, which seemed ill-suited to this forest. It wasn't even their ferocious expressions. It was their sheer numbers.
"Damn it," Lan Qisheng cursed, his stance now fully defensive. He had snapped out of his daze long before the wolves appeared, and he certainly wasn't foolish enough to die from a direct attack. Ren Yi had simply reacted faster than him. If he had truly been hit by such an attack, then he wouldn't deserve the medals and accolades he had earned through his many dangerous missions.
His frustration wasn't born of fear but practicality. His team could handle these wolves, but there were over twenty of them. Even for an elite unit, fighting off such creatures while protecting the remaining survivors would be a daunting task.
Sian frowned, instantly understanding Lan Qisheng's predicament. As a former soldier and someone who had endured hellish experiences to save and protect others in his past life, Sian was no stranger to such scenarios.
Destruction was easy for the strong, but protection? That required immense skill and strength—a fact that many overlooked.
Sian's gaze turned toward the pack of wolves, his expression unreadable.
To be continued…
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Erato-san. has something to say:
Sorry, the battle didn't start in this chapter as planned; it has 1.9k words...
But as an apology, I'll give u a big hint for the next chapter event...
{ Does anyone know Wei Ying?}
...if you do, be ready for the next chapter.
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