Live Strong in the Wilderness-Chapter 337: The Desert Food Chain

"So, going forward, other survival groups are our potential enemies and threats. If we can avoid contact, let’s do so." Xu Yi said, then strapped on his sleeping bag.

Having eaten enough breakfast, everyone was ready to set out.

"Understood, we’ll follow your lead. Whatever you ask us to do, we’ll do." Liu Li said straightforwardly, feeling her life was saved by Xu Yi, so supporting him seemed naturally right. Cheng Jie also owed her life to Xu Yi, probably sharing the same sentiment.

"Indeed, you’re the strongest in our group, so you should lead. Zhou Mo and I will carry out your orders diligently. If there’s anything we don’t do well, just say so directly. I tend to be straightforward, and my mind is simple too, no beating around the bush." Zhou Chun expressed his stance, as Xu Yi had already gathered four supporters, making it unnecessary for him to vie for leadership.

Besides, even without Liu Li and Cheng Jie, Xu Yi was strong.

Additionally, he himself didn’t feel the urge to lead, considering his son was quite naive too.

"Alright, let’s continue heading south. Once we reach the Jungle Area’s edge, we’ll determine whether to delve further." Xu Yi said, with the group unanimously agreeing, saving many troubles.

"Are you two okay walking by yourselves?" Xu Yi was still a bit uneasy, hence asked.

"No problem, we’ve basically recovered enough to travel." Cheng Jie affirmed, while Liu Li nodded to show she was also fine.

Consequently, they headed south.

The team leader was Xu Yi, followed at the end by the father-son pair Zhou Mo and Zhou Chun.

Cheng Jie handed her crossbow to Lu Ke, as Lu Ke could utilize it better.

Liu Li gave her axe to Cheng Jie, continuing to use the machete herself.

The group moved southward, hardly stopping.

Along the way, they encountered no animals.

"I wonder how vast this Desert is; it feels like we’ve walked for two days only to circle back." Lu Ke glanced around, seeing nothing but the sky and gray-black rocky grounds.

Others felt similarly. After all, without any landmarks, measuring their travel seemed impossible.

"Indeed, if it persists for ten days or half a month, it’ll surely drive people mad. Traveling in such conditions certainly tests one’s psyche." Zhou Mo echoed, acknowledging that the six-member team prevented any two-person group from going crazy.

"It sort of feels like space travel, doesn’t it? Lonely, monotonous." Cheng Jie recalled the science fiction movies she watched with her husband, despite finding them dull, which her husband enjoyed.

"Stop."

Xu Yi raised his fist, signaling everyone to halt.

He had seen animals underground ahead.

Everyone immediately became tense, their eyes fixed ahead, trying to locate what prompted Xu Yi to stop them.

Xu Yi took Lu Ke’s crossbow and aimed in that direction.

The animals weren’t large, likely mouse-sized.

Whether they were dangerous, Xu Yi wasn’t sure.

Attack or detour?

Since hunting animals yielded no points and there was no firewood to cook them, attacking seemed unwise.

So, after hesitating, Xu Yi set down the crossbow, preparing to detour.

Suddenly, a swarm of animals emerged, gray-white and conspicuous.

Everyone became tense upon spotting an unexpected group of small animals.

Fortunately, they weren’t swarming towards them.

Just then, Xu Yi fired an arrow.

He wanted to assess whether the animals posed a danger.

"They must have fled far; I’ll go ahead and check it out. You guys stay here; once it’s clear, then come over." Xu Yi said, handing the crossbow to Lu Ke, heading towards them.

"I’ll go with you." Lu Ke promptly followed, perceiving no immediate danger. Should danger arise, she could assist Xu Yi.

They approached the place and found the animal Xu Yi shot.

Xu Yi picked up the crossbow arrow and removed it.

He now held a gray-white animal resembling a mouse, though its fur was smoother, akin to duck down.

It was tailless, with a snout akin to rodents.

Xu Yi produced a knife, slicing open the tailless rodent’s belly to inspect its diet.

He discovered small white granules that seemed freshly ingested.

Zhou Chun and Liu Li had also arrived by then.

Xu Yi handed the rodent carcass to Zhou Chun, then overturned some stones.

After several layers, Xu Yi found lichens-like plants, with many white things growing atop.

These tailless rodents subsist on these plants, forming an ecological chain with predators consuming them.

Therefore, the rodents were numerous, ensuring sufficient food for other creatures.

Moreover, this ecosystem seemed rather singular, hence the organizers mentioning rare beasts.

This discovery proved somewhat useful.

"Let’s rest and have dinner, then travel a bit more tonight, aiming to quickly reach the Jungle Area." Xu Yi suggested; it was already past five.

Resting and dining took just twenty minutes, and the group resumed traveling.

Not knowing how long they’d walk, minimizing wasted time was prudent.

Being low on rations and drinking water, they must exit the Desert before depletion.

After dark, their pace slackened; walking wasn’t as easy at night.

Soon, they heard distant sounds.

"Sounds like gunfire, right?" Lu Ke inquired, boasting superior hearing compared to others, albeit slightly weaker than Xu Yi’s, and thus perceiving gunfire.

"Correct, it seems a group is under attack." Xu Yi nodded, gazing toward the gunfire.

Distant flickers of firelight were faintly visible.

"Should we go check it out?" Zhou Chun asked, considering they could hear it, meaning it wasn’t far.

"Probably not a great idea; what if they consider us enemies?" Liu Li worried, armed with guns, wouldn’t they handle beasts easily?

If they demanded you hand over your Star Chart at gunpoint, would you comply?