The night is dark, and the bonfire brings light to the camp.
From time to time, the crackling sound of burning branches could be heard, accompanied by little sparks flying into the sky.
This camp is not strong. Although the fence has been hastily arranged, it is too short and the fence is too short. The defense against the impact of beasts is negligible. At most, it brings some psychological comfort to the members of the exploration team.
The real defense measure is a large number of traps scattered around the camp.
Once a ferocious beast attacks, these traps can form an obstacle and make a loud noise to warn people in the camp.
Of course, night watchmen are also arranged around the camp to provide another layer of protection.
In the past, most of the exploration team members would have gone to bed at this time, but tonight no one was sleepy.
Many people gathered around the campfire and talked to each other.
The information about the abilities of the flying squirrel leader and the food shortage faced by the expedition team are all known.
"What should we do in this situation?"
"Food is the most important thing! Without food and no need for magical beasts, we will all starve to death. No one is exception, because no one can live without eating or drinking."
"I think we should kill these flying squirrels. Even if the flying squirrel leader is very strong, the vast majority of flying squirrels are just ordinary beasts."
"Hmph, if you think so, just wait to die. As long as the flying squirrel leader bites your flesh and blood, you will die as soon as it is discharged. Even if the flying squirrel leader is rare, we don't have many people, and there is simply not enough for it to kill."
"Looking back now, it's really scary. During the day, the flying squirrel leader was only five steps away from me. Fortunately, he died in the hands of Master Zhenjin."
"Can the flying squirrel leader really discharge electricity?" Some people also expressed doubts.
But when he heard that this was the result of Cang Xu's inference, no one had any doubts.
"Looks like it's all thanks to Master Zhenjin! If he hadn't killed the flying squirrel leader with one blow, we would have killed someone."
"In my opinion, this kind of herd must not be touched. Maybe we can encounter a better food source next time. So, let's take a detour. Or maybe, we can find a large force."
"Oh, your idea is too naive. Is there necessarily food in the large army? Don't forget that our group of people were sent out by the large army to explore the surroundings and search for food at the same time!"
"We don't know how long it is to go back to the beach where we started and join the large army. It is very possible that we will encounter more powerful monsters along this way."
"At the end of the day, exactly how long can our food last?"
Cang Xu was lying in the tent, listening to the sounds coming from outside. He looked at the roof of the tent and knew very clearly: the food left could only last for seven days at most!
But at this moment, Cang Xu was more worried about the team's condition.
Everyone has their own ideas, the team's people have become dispersed, and everyone has their own opinions. At this time, a leader is needed to make the final decision.
However, although Zhen Jin has taken charge of this position, his reputation as a leader has not yet taken root in the hearts of the people.
The mutton incident seemed to be a good thing that could improve the prestige of the leader of Zhenjin, but it turned out that the whole team was poisoned, causing the team to toss back and forth and not enough food was harvested.
Therefore, Zhenjin was unable to consolidate his authority.
"Then, it depends on this time." Cang Xu thought to himself.
To be fair, this is not a good opportunity.
However, reality is always like this. It is cold and ruthless, and always puts surprises and problems directly here, which is not satisfactory. People are often caught off guard, let alone force them.
Whether it is Zhen Jin, Zidi, Cang Xu himself, or the entire exploration team, they have all been forced into a corner by reality.
"Only by overcoming this difficult reality can you truly take charge of this team. So, Zhenjin, young leader, how will you choose?"
With this question in mind, Cang Xu fell asleep slowly.
"How should I choose?" Zhen Jin fell into deep thought.
As a leader, he has no right to escape, only to bear it!
"Now that the team is short of food, dealing with the flying squirrels is an option to obtain food. However, the risk is very high, and the exploration team does not have enough combat power. If they suffer an electric shock from the flying squirrel leader, they will inevitably suffer heavy casualties."
"But I need a big victory. A hearty victory is the ideal result. If it is just a tragic victory with too many casualties, the remaining people will definitely be disappointed and no longer look forward to my leadership."
"At the same time, the scale of the entire exploration team is not large. The casualties are too large, how can the remaining people help me compete for the position of Baisha City Lord?"
Besides this choice, Zhen Jin knew that he had another option.
"That is to abandon this flying squirrel colony and continue to explore, hoping that better food sources may be discovered in the future."
"This choice can temporarily stabilize the entire team, but the food reserve can only last for seven days at most. It is actually difficult to say what will happen next."
"It may be a weaker beast group, or it may be a direct encounter with a terrifying monster, causing the entire exploration team to perish."
"If food is strictly controlled and reduced as much as possible, it can last for more than ten days."
"But the risks are huge."
"Once food starts to be scarce, people will panic, and they will even be wary of each other, hunt each other, and devour each other in order to survive!"
"My prestige cannot suppress such people's hearts. If this happens, the entire team will not collapse but riot."
"I'll forget it, Zidi will still be implicated!"
While Zhen Jin was meditating, an idea suddenly popped out.
This idea was so bold and terrifying that Zhen Jin himself was frightened - "If I was forced into a desperate situation, in order to survive, would I kill other people and feed on human flesh?"
"No, how is this possible! If I did this, what would be the difference between me and those beasts and beasts!? I am a Templar."
Zhen Jin felt deeply ashamed.
The Templars represent light and bravery. On the battlefield, the Templars always charge at the front. In life, the Templars uphold justice, uphold the good, and protect the weak.
"It turns out that becoming a leader is so difficult. I'm afraid I'm going to be driven crazy. Otherwise, how could I have such a terrible idea?"
At this moment, Zhen Jin truly felt that being a leader was never that easy.
Leaders must shoulder their responsibilities, not betray the trust of their subordinates, find the right path when they are confused, and lead everyone out of trouble.
What's more, Zhen Jin is burdened with far more than that.
He thought about his family again, his father who only had one arm left. He could not die. He wanted to become the Lord of Baisha City. This was a key step in the revival of the Baizhen family.
And his pride as a noble, his glory as a Templar...
As she thought about it, Zhen Jin frowned more and more, her chest felt tight, and she actually felt like she was suffocating.
His tent was already the largest, but at this moment, the entire tent was like a monster's giant claw, which was constantly shrinking, as if it was strangling Zhen Jin's throat.
Zhen Jin resisted the huge pressure, and the sounds of people outside the tent gradually died down. Most of the exploration team members went into the tent to fall asleep, but Zhen Jin felt that the pressure was getting heavier and heavier.
I don't know how long it took, but Zhen Jin let out a soft sound, suddenly bent down, and sat down weakly on the marching blanket, leaning against the only wooden stake in the tent.
"Huhuhu..."
Zhen Jin was breathing heavily, his forehead stained with sweat.
He felt intense fatigue, not physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion.
"What should I do?" Zhen Jin was still confused and distressed.
Subconsciously, he knelt on the ground and started praying again.
"O Holy Emperor, my God, your gaze is above the clouds. No matter what kind of fog can stop your progress. You hold the reins of the huge empire and lead hundreds of millions of people to victory. You are so wise.
, you are so decisive, you can see through the trajectory of fate."
"Now, your loyal and humble believers pray to you. Please show me the way. Please clear away the fog of fate for me. Please protect me so that I can maintain the pride of the nobility and the glory of the knight."
However, the gods did not respond.
Needle gold awaits.
He was looking forward to God's response.
Time passes silently and continuously.
It's been a long wait.
Zhen Jin half-knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and faced the direction of the Shengming Empire.
This is stubborn waiting.
This time when praying, Zhenjin showed unprecedented patience.
However, in the end, when the cold breath of the night continued to penetrate through the small cracks in the tent, it also penetrated into Zhen Jin's nasal cavity, and penetrated from his skin into his heart.
Zhen Jin's heart seemed to be gradually getting colder, and her eagerness to wait had hit the bottom.
Zhenjin realized the cruel reality - God still had not responded to him, and he would not wait for any instructions from Emperor Shengming.
The tent in the middle of the night was full of darkness without a trace of light.
The young man Zhen Jin was half-kneeling on the ground, like a stone statue.
After a long time, the stone statue sighed. He no longer knelt half-kneeling, but stood up with difficulty.
If your legs and feet are sore and numb, use acupuncture to stamp your feet to relax your muscles.
His eyes were dull and his heart was heavy. He knew that he could only rely on himself.
Without God's guidance, the road ahead is dark.
But he must go on!
Staying where you are is just waiting for death and will disappoint everyone.
Life is like this.
People are often forced by life to make various decisions when their future is uncertain. Even people themselves know how reckless such choices are! But unfortunately, people have to bear the consequences of their choices, no matter how bitter they are.
Still sweet.
Zhen Jin could only continue to think.
Strangely, when he thought about it this time, he didn't feel the embarrassment he felt before.
It was as if he had broken through a limit. Perhaps it was because God didn't respond that he completely understood that no one could rely on him.
When morning came, the birdsong in the forest became more and more loud, and Zhenjin suddenly realized that a whole night had passed.
He opened the tent flap and happened to see the rising sun.
The sun shines through the clouds into the semi-dark forest. There is still white mist in the forest in the early morning, and the air seems wet and cold. Acupuncture feels refreshing while breathing.
The moment he opens the door curtain, he is a wise and powerful leader who sees through everything and can make the most correct choice.
Even if he knows he is not one, he still has to act decent!
There was no trace of hesitation on his face, he had already made a decision!
Everyone was quickly summoned and listened to Zhenjin issue a series of orders.
"Cyanobacteria, in the next few days, you have to continue sneaking to find out more information about the flying squirrel community."
"Xanthellae, Baiya, Cangxu, you are responsible for choosing the wood. We are going to make a batch of short bows."
"Zidi, I need you to prepare a potion, preferably one that can also be effective on the flying squirrel leader."
Yes, Zhenjin has decided to hunt this flying squirrel herd.