Chapter 22: Jungle Survival Knowledge

“I’ve had enough of this. Are all you mercenaries brainless, incapable of following an expert’s advice? Before we set out, I made it clear to you: for this expedition, I am the jungle survival expert. All you had to do was listen to me. And yet, what did you do? Attacking recklessly, one after another. Do you even know what you’re up against? If not, then keep your heads down and do as I say.”

After escaping a fair distance, York finally managed to round up the scattered group. Once they found a level spot to catch their breath, York let loose on the three surviving mercenaries, berating them harshly. Perkin had thought briefly about intervening—after all, they still needed the mercenaries’ protection for the journey ahead—but recalling the danger they’d just escaped, he ultimately shook his head and let York have his say.

Nearly ten minutes later, York jabbed a finger at the mercenary leader. “Keep your people in line. Everyone, including you, will wait for my command before doing anything. Even if you notice something wrong, you’ll wait for my order before reacting, understood?”

Watching the three survivors nod obediently, Liu Zhi was struck by the impression of a teacher chastising unruly students.

But York’s gaze soon shifted to Liu Zhi. He spoke bluntly, “We don’t have a boat anymore, so hand over your map. I need to see where we should go next.”

The local guide joined them, along with Perkin and Lloyd. Frowning, Liu Zhi hesitated, but finally produced the map.

Before Liu Zhi could open it, York snatched it from his hands, spreading it out and beckoning to the guide and Perkin. “We’re here right now. Next, we need to cut straight through this jungle to reach this point, and from there, we can get to our designated landing site as planned. What does this symbol mean?”

Liu Zhi snatched the map back. “That’s a danger symbol. It means the core region of this forest is extremely hazardous. I wouldn’t recommend cutting straight through. If it were me, I’d follow the river’s edge.”

“No. There’s not enough time. Lord Perkin’s orders are to reach the landing site by noon tomorrow. Only then can we arrive at the specified location on schedule. If we follow the river, even traveling through the night without rest, we still won’t make it. We have to cut straight through the jungle. I’ll hold onto the map. Let’s get moving.”

York reached for the map again, but Liu Zhi twisted away, tucking it behind him as the tip of his slender rapier hovered warningly in front of York.

“We had an agreement,” he reminded.

York’s brow furrowed. He drew his own weapon—a dagger, which Liu Zhi guessed was more suited to foraging than to fighting. “Hand over the map. I don’t have time to argue.”

“Neither do I,” Liu Zhi replied, already shifting his stance, poised for York’s move.

Perkin saw what was about to happen. The secret Z-Pattern Sword was a counterattacking technique, and with their jungle survival expert at stake, they couldn’t afford to lose him. He raised his cane to separate the two men. “You’ve already seen the map. Our objective is clear. Let’s not waste any more time here.”

Hearing this, York could no longer persist. He shot Liu Zhi a venomous glare, then turned to organize the group.

“Lai, you take point—you’re the scout. Follow Lai. Lord Perkin, you and Lloyd walk with me. The rest of you bring up the rear, but stay close; if you stray too far, I won’t be able to save you if something happens.”

With York’s arrangement, the party fell into formation: the local guide and the female knife-thrower in front, York, Perkin, and Lloyd in the middle, and Liu Zhi, the mercenary leader, and the swordsman bringing up the rear.

But as they moved forward, the order quickly dissolved into chaos. York kept darting up to the vanguard to check the surroundings, while the mercenary leader—now bereft of most of his weapons—dared not lag behind, so the three of them ended up trailing closely behind Perkin.

Perhaps it was the silence aboard the boat that had emboldened the mercenaries’ recklessness; now, in the jungle, York’s mouth was never at rest.

“Wait, don’t attack. I know you see that snake, but it isn’t dangerous. There’s no need to provoke it…”

“Careful! Didn’t you notice how brightly colored that frog is? That red species is highly poisonous—a touch will kill a grown man instantly…”

“It’s nothing, just an ordinary spider—ugly, but harmless…”

“Don’t go near that grass—it’s toxic, yes, that kind with those leaf shapes. We’ll go around…”

[Ding! Under expert instruction, you have acquired Jungle Survival Knowledge, Level 1.]

[Jungle Survival Knowledge, Level 1: You have a basic grasp of survival in the jungle and can ensure your own safety in dangerous wilderness.]

[Note: In a primeval jungle, the most important thing is not what you can do, but what you must not do. Only by knowing what is dangerous can you hope to survive.]

The sudden message startled Liu Zhi as he walked. Immediately, he sensed something new within his mind: an instinct for orienting himself and recognizing dangers in the forest.

It was a different sensation than when he’d learned basic sailor’s swordsmanship or sail handling—there was no muscular fatigue this time. Instead, he’d acquired a purely intellectual, passive skill.

Rather than having knowledge forcibly crammed into his mind, he simply knew what to do, as though he’d lived in the jungle for some time already.

The feeling surprised him, but he quickly composed himself and listened intently to York’s ongoing explanations.

Meanwhile, Liu Zhi busied himself gathering useful items—medicinal herbs and such—some of which York hadn’t pointed out, but which Liu Zhi’s newfound survival knowledge allowed him to recognize.

His actions caught the mercenary leader’s eye, who sidled up to ask, “What are you collecting?”

“Herbs,” Liu Zhi replied curtly. He had no fondness for this man, remembering the axe the mercenary had hurled at him back on the boat. If not for the giant serpent pursuing them, Liu Zhi would have dealt with him there and then.

Just as the mercenary leader opened his mouth to say more, York suddenly halted. “Something’s not right. Everyone, double your caution.”

Following York’s gaze, Liu Zhi’s expression hardened. He had spotted a barely perceptible serpent trail—one that suggested a creature no smaller than the giant snake they’d encountered in the river.