Chapter 155: Escape by Drifting

With these thoughts, he looked at the faint trace of dawn outside, though it was not very distinct, as another rain was about to start soon.

"Damn, I hate the rain!" Flower Buddha muttered with disgust as he noticed the sky, now heavily blanketed with dark clouds.

The heavy rain arrived without warning. It quickly transitioned from a drizzle into thick sheets of water, pouring down relentlessly. Those who had been sitting on the deck quickly retreated into the cabin. The tiny cabin instantly became exceptionally crowded, with Carissa and Lucia huddling closely in a corner. Even so, with the protection of the hull above them, they finally felt a sliver of safety.

It was already the rainy season deep within the jungle, causing the water levels to surge drastically. The once densely packed jungle had been completely submerged, turning into an endless expanse of open water. Looking around, there was nothing but a boundless horizon. Flower Buddha tried his best to pilot the boat at the slowest possible speed so he could keep an eye on the surroundings and search for a place to land. Most importantly, the fuel gauge indicated that their remaining fuel was critically low.

Chen Cao, who had learned how to drive a speedboat back at school, looked at the gauge and asked, "How much further can we go on this much fuel?"

Flower Buddha gazed at the surrounding watery expanse and replied, "Not far. If this keeps up, we'll just be drifting along the surface of the river!"

At that moment, Lu Tianming chimed in quietly from the side, "We can turn off the engine and use the current. As long as we steer properly, we can save a lot of fuel!"

Hearing this, Flower Buddha turned to look at Lu Tianming with a gaze so intense that it made the latter's skin crawl. Lu Tianming couldn't help shrinking his head back slightly, but then Flower Buddha burst out laughing. "Ah, right! I forgot we have an expert like old Lu right here!"

With that, he decisively cut the engine. Deprived of the motor's roar, the speedboat immediately slowed down. Estimating that it was almost noon, Chen Cao distributed the dried meat they had scavenged earlier to everyone.

Although they were inside the speedboat and had not encountered any attacks, the failure to find land left everyone in low spirits. They silently chewed on their food in gloomy silence. A cloud of depression hung heavy over their heads, as dreary as the relentless rain pouring outside.

After finishing their meal, the group—already physically and mentally exhausted from living in constant fear—slumped into the corners and drifted off into a restless sleep. Chen Cao took over from Flower Buddha at the helm. Meanwhile, little Wugi, sitting beside Chen Cao with his small head propped up, stared blankly ahead. Chen Cao lit a cigarette, looked at Wugi, and said, "What's wrong, Wugi? Not getting some rest?"

Hearing this, Wugi rested his chin in his hands and replied, "I already slept yesterday."

Hearing this, Chen Cao seemed to understand what Wugi was thinking. He softened his voice and asked, "Are you missing your home?"

Wugi turned his head, looked at Chen Cao, and asked, "Chen, do you think I still have a home?"

Chen Cao hadn't expected someone of Wugi's age to utter such profound words, and for a moment, he was at a loss for how to respond. After a long silence, he let out a sigh and said, "Come with us. There is nothing left here for you to hold onto, I think. You should go to a more civilized, free world to receive a new education. The road ahead of you is still very long."

Wugi blinked his dark eyes and asked, "If I do that, will I be able to avenge my mother?"

Chen Cao suddenly remembered the heavy price of Wugi's pouch of gemstones—even if it meant killing Sangela, the warrior who had defiled his mother. He nodded and said, "Maybe. You need to study hard and master skills so you can avenge your mother. However, perhaps you won't even need to dirty your hands; that bastard might just die in the flames of war."

Wugi looked at Chen Cao with confusion. "Why?"

Chen Cao did not answer. He knew that even if he explained the underlying reasons, Wugi wouldn't understand. Instead, he steered the conversation away: "Wugi, how did your people survive the rainy season in the jungle?"

Wugi didn't notice Chen Cao changing the subject and answered naturally, "The people in our tribe usually prepare food in advance, and when the rainy season comes, we stop hunting. We just wait until the seasonal rains recede before we start hunting again."

Hearing this, Chen Cao nodded, stroked Wugi's head, and said nothing more.

Looking around, the surroundings were still a vast expanse of water. Fortunately, the current flowed downstream, so even without motor power, the speedboat drifted forward at a fairly brisk pace.

Before they knew it, evening had arrived. Flower Buddha and Chen Cao had taken turns at the helm twice. Having rested adequately throughout the afternoon, everyone had recovered their energy. At that moment, Stanny gazed into the hazy, distant sky and suddenly shouted, "Boss, look! It looks like we've reached the shore!"

Hearing this, Chen Cao quickly looked over. Only now did he truly realize just how vast this jungle actually was. Catching sight of the shoreline filled him with a mixture of depression and relief—depression because they still hadn't managed to escape the jungle yet, and relief because they could finally resupply their food.

Chen Cao looked at Flower Buddha and discussed the matter: "Let's make landfall and restock our supplies. What do you think?"

Flower Buddha nodded. Clearly, his state of anxiety matched Chen Cao's, but they had no choice other than to make landfall. After all, with so many mouths to feed on the boat, food was a massive issue. Most importantly, without a fire source, the boat was damp and cold; if things continued this way, everyone would surely catch colds and fevers. By then, they would either become floating corpses in this endless drift or lose their combat capability and be captured by enemies.

Flower Buddha started the motor and quickly brought the boat ashore. Working together with a clear division of labor, they gathered tree branches and leaves. Guided by Chen Cao's professional expertise, they quickly erected a simple tent. With a cigarette lighter in hand, everything became much easier. As if the heavens were showing them mercy, the rain grew lighter and gradually stopped altogether. Chen Cao and the others dried their clothes and set out to forage for food. Wugi, being a jungle hunter, led the way and successfully brought back two wild rabbits. This series of encouraging victories temporarily and effectively eased the gloomy mood hanging over the group.

The campfire crackled brightly, and the rabbits impaled on wooden branches sizzled as fat dripped onto the flames. Having been tortured by hunger and dry rations for days, the group swallowed hard and quickly devoured both rabbits down to the bones.

By the time they finished their chores, the moon had climbed into the sky at some point. Although the floodwaters had not receded, tomorrow promised to be clear and sunny. Surveying the surroundings, Chen Cao calculated in his mind that tomorrow, taking advantage of the fine weather, they could venture deeper into the jungle to hunt more game and dry it as backup rations.

After a flurry of activity, a satisfying hot meal, and the warmth of the fire, the energy the group had accumulated during the day was quickly exhausted, and one by one, they fell fast asleep. Chen Cao, however, dared not lower his guard. Gripping his sniper rifle, he stood watch. In this peril-ridden environment, one could never afford a moment of fatigue, because no matter how strong a human being trained themselves to be, they remained fragile—a single minor external attack could instantly cost you your life.