Feifei Wang looked utterly bewildered, not understanding what everyone was talking about. She hurriedly asked what was going on. Jackson had previously told her about the “chu” and “zhì bǐng,” and he murmured a few words in French. Upon hearing this, Feifei’s expression changed, and she immediately became wary.
These insects usually appeared in swarms and could only be dealt with using water. Everyone had carried their water supplies on camels, but now there was no time to think twice. They hastily called upon Old Karama to fetch all the water from the camels.
Liu Dashao demanded water, but Old Karama didn’t respond. Liu Dashao turned around and exclaimed, “Damn, where did Karama go?” He silently cursed, “Damn old man, escaping at the first sign of danger. What are we supposed to do now?”
Fan Debiao angrily shouted, “What a coward! That old man abandoned us and ran off. What are we supposed to do now?”
As Fan Debiao finished speaking, a rustling sound reached their ears—something Liu Dashao and Fan Debiao recognized immediately. They turned their heads toward Tiao Zai and Sun Li.
The two had already been devoured by the chu, leaving only skeletons. A massive swarm of chu was now surging toward them, continuously emerging from the hole Sun Li had created.
“We can’t handle these things. There’s a high ground nearby; let’s head there first,” Fan Debiao suddenly suggested. He slung his rifle and ran off toward the high ground.
Liu Dashao looked in the direction Fan Debiao ran and spotted a tall earthen wall resembling an ancient beacon tower. They could take refuge there and use their entrenching tools to defend themselves for a while.
Liu Dashao was about to run when he noticed Wu Bai had fainted from fear. Liu silently cursed, “Damn it! This idiot always messes things up at critical moments. Just finished acting crazy and now he’s passed out again.” Liu Dashao really wanted to kick him, but there was no time. As they were in this together, he quickly called Jackson to help carry Wu Bai.
Jackson spoke a few words in French, then rushed over to support Wu Bai alongside Liu Dashao, and they ran off.
The chu were closing in fast. Liu Dashao and Jackson focused only on running, not worrying about Wu Bai’s feet scraping against the sand, creating sparks from the friction. The pain finally woke him up, and he screamed loudly.
Soon, the group reached the “high ground.” Wu Bai sat down, removed his shoes, and found his skin badly scraped. Lin Miaoke and Wang Zhicai immediately rushed over to help him.
Fan Debiao handed Liu Dashao and Jackson each an entrenching tool, instructing everyone to guard a section of the base of the high ground, striking the chu as they approached. He said their only hope was for Hu Da to send rain, but Liu Dashao glanced at the sky, doubting that rain was even remotely possible. Still, the instinct to survive drove Liu Dashao to keep striking the chu climbing up the high ground.
Seeing everyone overwhelmed, Feifei Wang grabbed her whip and began swinging it. Her whip proved more effective than the entrenching tools, clearing large swarms of chu halfway up the high ground.
After a few minutes, everyone’s strength was nearly depleted, and Feifei’s whip strikes became weaker, while the chu kept multiplying.
Liu Dashao shouted at Fan Debiao, “Damn it, we’re out of strength! What now? It doesn’t look like rain is coming. Looks like Hu Da isn’t helping us.”
Fan Debiao replied, “Looks like Hu Da is just hot air. The flame of revolution must burn until the end. Use your last strength and keep striking.”
Seeing Liu Dashao and Fan Debiao still joking around in this critical moment, Feifei Wang helplessly shook her head and continued whipping.
Whether due to their exhaustion or the increasing number of chu, suddenly twice as many chu surged toward them. Everyone’s nerves snapped, and they didn’t know where to strike anymore.
“Everyone, hold on a little longer!” Suddenly, a familiar voice called from behind. Everyone turned around and saw Old Karama rushing toward them.
Karama was carrying two large bags, running frantically with an awkward, comical gait, but his expression showed extreme tension.
Because of his frantic running, water kept spilling from the bags. Everyone immediately realized the bags were full of water. It seemed the chu at their feet were in for a hard time.
Liu Dashao was puzzled—how did Old Karama know water could defeat the chu? He had assumed the old man had run off, but instead, he had gone to find a way to help them. Truthfully, Liu Dashao now felt a deep respect for him.
Overjoyed, Fan Debiao shouted, “Old man, hurry! One second slower and we’re done for!”
Upon hearing Fan Debiao’s shout, Karama sprinted forward with all his might, his mouth foaming from exertion.
At this moment, everyone realized there was hope for survival. They all grabbed their entrenching tools again. Wu Bai couldn’t find anything suitable, so he grabbed his hiking shoe and frantically struck from the edge of the high ground. Chaos erupted on the high ground.
That’s just how people are. When there’s no hope of survival, they just sit and wait to die. But once there’s even the slightest hope, they fight desperately for it. This is called the hope of survival.
The chu swarm that had nearly overwhelmed them was now pushed back. Even if the water had arrived an hour later, they could have held on. This is the power of unity.
Soon, Old Karama finally reached them, his face flushed red. He gasped, “Pour the water from above, quickly!” He almost fainted from exhaustion.
Liu Dashao asked Lin Miaoke to take care of Old Karama, then he and Fan Debiao each grabbed a bag, opened the stoppers, and poured the water down the high ground. Instantly, a small waterfall cascaded down.
As the water flowed down, thick white smoke rose from below. Liu Dashao and Fan Debiao shouted in triumph.
Suddenly, the chu scattered to the dry areas around the high ground, no longer attacking blindly. Liu Dashao suddenly recalled how the chu and zhì bǐng had buried them before. Could it be that these insects actually had intelligence?
If that were the case, they couldn’t eliminate all the chu with just this amount of water. Liu Dashao thought, they hadn’t brought much water when they set out. Where did Old Karama get so much water? He immediately asked Old Karama about the water source.
Old Karama explained that there was a small oasis not far ahead with a pond. The water came from there.
Upon hearing this, Liu Dashao immediately devised a plan. They could use the remaining water in his and Fan Debiao’s bags to create a path, and everyone could follow it to the oasis, jump into the pond, and be completely saved. However, he didn’t know how far the oasis was, and the water supply became a concern.
Liu Dashao explained his plan to everyone and asked Old Karama how far the oasis was. After estimating the distance, Liu Dashao calculated the water remaining in his and Fan Debiao’s bags. It was impossible to reach the oasis with just that.
Moreover, two people in the group couldn’t run. Even with sufficient water, there was no guarantee everyone could safely reach the oasis. Once again, they were in danger.
Fan Debiao spat and said, “Let’s use this water to break through first, then discard the water bags and rush toward the oasis.”
Fan Debiao’s idea was risky, and Liu Dashao hesitated to try it. But after looking around, he saw that the previously poured water had already been absorbed by the sand, and the chu were closing in again.
There was no time to think anymore. They had to go with Fan Debiao’s plan.
Liu Dashao quickly arranged their formation. Jackson took a water bag and led the way, supporting Wu Bai alongside Wang Zhicai. Liu Dashao, Feifei Wang, and Lin Miaoke were in the middle, while Fan Debiao carried Old Karama and held the other water bag at the rear.
They moved in this formation, slowly running while pouring water on the ground. The chu cleared a path wherever they went.
Although they were only jogging slowly, they moved as lightly as thieves, afraid that any loud noise might provoke the chu. The atmosphere became extremely tense. Everyone remained silent, carefully stepping forward.
This silence was suddenly broken by Fan Debiao shouting, “We’re almost there!” Everyone’s minds snapped into action, and they all rushed toward the oasis described by Old Karama.
As they ran, Feifei Wang suddenly screamed, “Oh no, my compass fell!”
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