Chapter 675 - 15: Torrential Rain (Part 2)
...
Chen Zhou, standing in front of Paul, had no way of knowing all the complexities in his mind.
According to the original plan, after returning to the mound, he was supposed to share the acquired information with Paul immediately, weave a simple vine armor for him, craft several long spears for throwing, make a weapon for close combat, and then find an opportune moment to launch an attack on the "45-yarders" and the Japanese.
But plans couldn’t keep pace with changes, and this downpour disrupted all his arrangements.
He originally wanted to discuss the situation with Paul about the "45-yarders" and the Japanese while on the move, to make efficient use of the time.
However, the rain was so heavy that the accumulated water on the mound couldn’t seep into the soil, forming little rivers flowing downward.
The pounding rain severely impaired his hearing; sounds he could usually hear from a kilometer away were now no different than for an average person.
As for speaking, opening his mouth meant rainwater would flow in. Even if he could speak clearly, there was no guarantee Paul could hear him.
Now, he was more worried about Paul’s physical condition—
In the late autumn of a high-latitude region, the rain carried a chill, and an ordinary person walking in such a heavy rain for too long could easily get hypothermia, which in severe cases could lead to death.
Even those with good physical fitness, if they continued through the rain without drying off and warming up near a heat source afterward, could have a high chance of catching a cold.
Given Paul’s body fat rate, hypothermia was unlikely, but whether he’d catch a cold was uncertain.
"The little Japanese ghosts are pretty lucky; if it weren’t for this rain, tonight would be the night of your demise."
He muttered to himself, glancing back at Paul trudging behind him. Chen Zhou could only place his hopes on the combat race’s physical resilience.
If Paul indeed caught a cold, not exerting energy to take care of the sick would be the best-case scenario, let alone facing a group of challengers alone and the ensuing struggle for airdropped supplies.
This godforsaken place lacked medical supplies; their only medical item was half a bottle of alcohol. If things went wrong, Paul might die from a cold, and then he would be left alone again.
...
The rain poured harder, and as they walked lower, some puddles were deep enough to submerge their shoes.
In this frenzied downpour, Chen Zhou’s extraordinary eyesight was rendered useless, not to mention his sense of smell or hearing, making him akin to a blind person with eyes open.
He could only rely on his memory to lead the way, making precise steps to match the mental map he had created, meticulously adjusting his direction.
Thankfully, his memory wasn’t affected by the rain. After about forty minutes, Chen Zhou led Paul into a forest near the mound.
This forest was far from the river, with no nearby water source, so it was less likely to be hit by flooding. Moreover, the trees were generally low, reducing the risk of being struck by lightning.
The low trees had another advantage: their lower branches made it easier to build temporary shelters.
However, after walking for so long, both of them, along with the serrated tiger cubs in their hands, were drenched like drowned rats. Building a shelter now would be superfluous.
...
Finding a large tree thick enough for two people to hug, Chen Zhou and Paul finally enjoyed a "medium shower" under its dense canopy.
Paul placed the three wet serrated tiger cubs under the tree and took off his shirt, revealing the thick hair on his chest and back.
He rolled up his clothes into a ball, leaned against the trunk, continuously wiping the rain off his face, silently watching the downpour outside the canopy.
Chen Zhou also took off his clothes, but he stripped down more thoroughly, wearing nothing but shorts.
This heavy rain didn’t make him feel cold at all; he could only feel the surge of power beneath his resilient skin.
After draping his clothes over a branch, Chen Zhou dashed barefoot into the inky darkness of the jungle.
Flashes of lightning connecting heaven and earth occasionally revealed the outline of his powerful body and his astonishing speed.
Paul, leaning against the tree watching Chen Zhou from afar, felt that this man, shrouded in a mysterious aura and having completed a challenge, seemed to have no reverence for this ancient wilderness. Compared to the beasts, Chen Zhou appeared more beastlike.
Paul couldn’t fathom what Chen Zhou had experienced, but he could sense a paternal steadiness from him, occasionally mixed with the frenzy of younger people.
The majesty of a superior, the friendliness of an ordinary person, the serenity of seeing through the world, and the transcendence from the shackles of life and death...
and that superhuman physical strength.
Watching Chen Zhou as if he were flying on the tips of grass, Paul felt a genuine awe for this man, not only due to Chen Zhou’s mysterious background and courage to participate in the challenge for the second time but also because of his extraordinary aura.
...
The rain lasted for most of the night, from an initial torrential downpour, to a steady moderate rain, eventually exhausting itself to a light drizzle, and then it stopped.
The rain clouds that had covered the entire sky poured out, no longer as thick as before the rain, even tearing open holes in places, revealing the deep blue night sky behind.
A bit of moonlight spilled down from high above, illuminating the land strewn with glistening water.
The prairie seemed to be hiding millions of mirrors, reflecting the stars above, scattered to the horizon.
When the rain outside the trees ceased, the ’rain’ beneath the tree did not.
The droplets soaked into the tree bark and collected among the leaves only slowly began to flow and gather, dropping downwards.
Paul and Chen Zhou wrung out their drenched clothes as much as possible and then used sticks to stretch them flat, placing them outside the tree.