CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129: SNATCHING THE FRUIT

"No, this is the other team’s supplies," Abei refused.

"But they have three tents! I remember clearly, the Shadow Emperor’s team took two tents, and you have the same equipment as Teacher Anan, so they have three tents in total. What’s wrong with us taking one?" Fu Xiao said.

"I also think we should take one!"

Jiang Xiaoze looked at Bai Zhi. There’s no way she can disagree this time, she thought, and continued, "This way, if it rains again, neither their people nor our people will get wet. We can also separate by gender and get a good night’s sleep."

To everyone’s surprise, Bai Zhi didn’t disagree, but her brows furrowed in distress. "I don’t think it’s right to do this!"

Jiang Xiaoze: "..."

Fu Xiao said, "What’s not right about it! We’re in a competition. In a competition, isn’t it about using every method possible to win? Besides, we’re not taking all their tents!"

Jiang Xiaoze agreed wholeheartedly. "Teacher Fu Xiao is right! Teacher Fu Xiao, let me help you."

Jiang Xiaoze ran over and started to work with Fu Xiao.

If it were up to me, I’d take both tents! she thought. Without a tent tonight, let’s see if those insects bite An Yan!

Unfortunately, this was a live broadcast.

Seeing they were determined to take the tent, Abei went over to help Fu Xiao dismantle it.

Jiang Xiaoze, seeing there was nothing for her to do there, quickly sneaked to another tent, pulled out her mosquito repellent, and threw it inside.

An Yan must have tampered with my mosquito repellent, she thought. I’m just returning it to her now.

As she left, she intentionally left a small opening in the tent’s zipper.

I hope countless mosquitoes get into that tent! she wished silently. It’d be best if An Yan gets bitten until she looks like she has hives!

She thought she was being secretive, but her actions had already been captured by the camera.

The fans quickly defended her:

"Did you see that? Our Xiaoze threw her own mosquito repellent into their tent."

"I saw it, I saw it! Xiaoze must feel bad about taking their tent and is compensating them with it!"

"Xiaoze is such a good girl!"

"..."

After taking the tent, the group started looking for clues in the vicinity.

As Jiang Xiaoze walked, she felt something wasn’t right. Without the mosquito repellent, she sensed that there were suddenly more bugs around her.

It must be an illusion! she thought. That mosquito repellent was tampered with by An Yan. Not bringing it was the right decision!

On the way, they encountered several snakes. Abei led them carefully around.

Only after reaching a safe area did he conscientiously inform them, "The snakes we just encountered are all venomous. That small one we saw last, named Green Tail, is the most valuable among them."

"It is said that the venom of an adult Green-tailed Snake can easily kill a grown man!"

"Heavens!" Bai Zhi covered her mouth, a look of lingering fear on her face. "Are there many of these snakes here?"

"Not many. The venom of the Green Tail is a valuable medicinal ingredient, and because of its beautiful appearance, it’s extremely rare. It’s known as the ’panda of snakes’ and is listed as a Class I nationally protected rare animal!"

"Precisely because it’s so precious, there was a time when foreigners wildly speculated on its price, driving it up to a million at one point. During that period, many snake catchers hunted them indiscriminately, leading to a drastic decline in the Green Tail population!"

"It wasn’t until the government stepped in to regulate that the Green Tail population began to gradually recover over these years."

Bai Zhi listened attentively, an idea slowly forming in her mind.

"’The panda of snakes,’ huh? So, does that mean if we encounter this snake, we can’t fight back? Otherwise, it would be killing a rare and protected animal?"

Abei explained, "That’s not entirely the case; human life always comes first. However, this type of snake has a characteristic: under normal circumstances, it won’t actively attack animals larger than itself. Even if it perceives danger, its first instinct is to flee!"

"Moreover, the one we just saw was still a juvenile, and young Green Tails are non-venomous."

Abei continued, "Juvenile snakes not only lack venom, they’re also a bit clueless. Just place a stick beside them, and they’ll wrap around it, mistaking it for one of their own kind!"

Bai Zhi’s eyes lit up again unconsciously. "Ah, now that you say it, I suddenly find the snake kind of unexpectedly cute and innocent."

Jiang Xiaoze also nodded. "So silly-cute. If possible, I’d really like to catch one and raise it at home."

"Once it’s grown, it becomes venomous. It wouldn’t be good if it bit someone," Bai Zhi said.

"That’s true."

After walking another ten meters or so, Bai Zhi suddenly stopped and said with a flushed face, "Xiaoze, let’s go over there. Teacher Abei, you and Fu Xiao can go on ahead."

Seeing her expression, Abei understood she likely needed to relieve herself, so he led Fu Xiao away.

Bai Zhi pulled Jiang Xiaoze back the way they came, speaking as they walked, "Green Tails are really strange snakes. They look so scary, yet they’re completely non-venomous! I wonder if people who get scared by them, upon finding out they’re harmless, would be so frustrated they’d want to punch a wall?"

"They’d definitely be angry!" Jiang Xiaoze replied.

As they talked, they arrived near the spot where they had found the Green-tailed Snake. Bai Zhi’s face flushed as she said, "Xiaoze, keep watch for me. I need to relieve myself."

"Oh."

Bai Zhi squatted down about ten meters away from Jiang Xiaoze. Jiang Xiaoze couldn’t see her, but Bai Zhi could see Jiang Xiaoze.

I’ve made myself so clear, Bai Zhi thought. Jiang Xiaoze should understand what she needs to do next, right?

Just as she was thinking this, she saw Jiang Xiaoze snap off a tree branch and tiptoe forward.

Soon, she had caught the Green Tail. She tucked it into her backpack.

Only after Bai Zhi was sure Jiang Xiaoze had finished did she stand up and walk over.

Naturally, the drone couldn’t film girls using the restroom, so their actions went unnoticed by everyone.

「Elsewhere.」

An Yan was picking fruit when Bai Zhi and the others arrived.

"Wow! I didn’t expect to find fruit trees here," Jiang Xiaoze exclaimed, running over happily. Although she hadn’t said anything, she had been hungry for so long that she couldn’t bear it anymore. Especially when she saw the fruit, she couldn’t stop her mouth from watering.

Then, Jiang Xiaoze realized that An Yan had picked all the fruits within easy reach. The remaining ones hung high on the branches of thorny trees, impossible to climb.

"An Yan, share some of your fruit with us!" Jiang Xiaoze demanded, as if it were her right.

An Yan gave her an amused look and asked, "Why should I?"

"We’re all here participating in a variety show; we should help each other out!"

"And how can you help me?"

"Uh..." Jiang Xiaoze was at a loss for words.

Bai Zhi, maintaining the poise of a well-bred young lady from a prominent family, said, "If you share half of your fruit with us, we’ll share any clues we find with you. Of course, if you find any clues, you’ll have to share them with us too."