Chapter 70

Rongcheng.

On the way home after a social engagement, Lu Yue had his driver drop him off and was scrolling through his phone when he saw a push notification.

It was about a certain outdoor blogger who had to regrettably withdraw from an expedition due to an injury, something he had no interest in reading.

He was about to swipe it away when his eyes suddenly caught a few keywords.

Nanchong 6 Team?

His slightly aching head suddenly snapped to attention.

Isn't this the scientific expedition team Feng Yi joined?

That kid better not be in trouble!

He mustn't be in trouble! He still needs that kid's help!

Lu Yue clicked on the push notification and read it carefully, then swiped it away.

The other members of the expedition team were fine; only this Cheng surname outdoor blogger had withdrawn early due to an accidental bite from a cobra.

The news didn't mention much about the other members of the expedition team, so Lu Yue searched for real-time news about the Nanchong 6 Team.

He confirmed that the Nanchong 6 Team, apart from this Cheng surname blogger, was fine and would continue with the expedition.

None of the news mentioned Feng Yi's name, and the videos released, including the live stream of the Cheng surname blogger, did not show Feng Yi's face, only a few back views.

Lu Yue took screenshots of those back views and sent them to Xue Lin. When Feng Yi went to look at the house, it was Xue Lin who recognized him as "Yue Mountain Snake Brother." In terms of recognizing people, Xue Lin was much better.

After a while, Xue Lin replied with a message:

[It's him.]

Lu Yue was reassured. It seemed Feng Yi was fine and had not left early with the outdoor blogger. He would continue with the expedition, and it was uncertain whether he could make it to their Qianli Group's annual celebration.

He hoped Feng Yi could make it!

He still needed Feng Yi's help.

This kid, on his first field expedition, managed to hold on without any trouble?

Lu Yue didn't want Feng Yi to be in trouble but also wanted him to return quickly to help.

He could only hope the expedition would end soon.

Lu Yue put this matter aside; thinking about it now wouldn't help.

However, a short while later, another push notification appeared, still about the Cheng surname outdoor blogger. Unlike the previous news, this one contained a high-definition photo of the blogger, an unedited, natural photo that clearly showed even the dead skin on his lips.

To capitalize on his injury, Cheng Si released unedited photos that looked particularly grim, as if he had been in the deep mountains for a long time.

His face was rough and weathered, with various scars. Although these were minor injuries, there were many of them. Walking in the forest, his face could be scratched or bitten by insects.

All of this was clearly visible in the high-definition photos.

To create a persona of dedication, hardship, stability, and reliability, he had to look absolutely "miserable" so that others would believe him.

It must be said that for this publicity, Cheng Si paid a high price.

When Lu Yue saw Cheng Si's face, he laughed out loud.

He didn't know Cheng Si and had no interest in his affairs. This kind of publicity stunt and marketing tactics were obvious to him.

Cheng Si's team released so many news stories, and the positive evaluations from the expedition team didn't mention any details about Cheng Si's injury!

So Lu Yue guessed that the blogger must have done something embarrassing and deliberately left it out, and the expedition team was just being considerate.

He found it tedious to read such hyped-up news.

He laughed because he thought of Feng Yi, who was also on the Nanchong 6 Team. If this Cheng Si's face was so weathered, how could Feng Yi be any better?

There were no conditions in the deep mountains for skincare, and the sun and wind would age a young face by twenty years.

A face that could rival a popular idol's would turn into a rugged villager's, dark and rough.

However, their Qianli Group's annual celebration still needed Feng Yi's help. With a face like a rugged villager, it wouldn't fit the occasion, and even in high-end clothing, it would look out of place.

Lu Yue thought that when Feng Yi's expedition ended, he would find someone to give Feng Yi a facial treatment and have a styling team work on him.

Young people, both men and women, are often very concerned about their appearance.

Such arrangements could also win their favor.

...

Nanchong 6 Team Expedition.

After Cheng Si was bitten by a snake, the rescue team came and took him away, bringing some supplies to the expedition team.

The food was a brief luxury.

Feng Yi savored the small bag of beef jerky he had just eaten. He had never thought beef jerky could be so delicious!

When this mission is over, he would buy two large boxes of beef jerky! To enjoy it thoroughly!

No, two large boxes might not be enough, he would buy ten boxes!

Feng Yi fantasized about what he would eat after the expedition to comfort his stomach, making up for the lack of food during this time.

Professor Zhou had the samples collected by the rescue team taken back and made a small adjustment to the next route. Since the rescue team brought supplies, the samples were directly taken back, and they didn't need to detour to the next supply point. They could take another route where they were more likely to encounter snakes.

After the rescue team left, the expedition team rested briefly and then continued on their journey.

With Cheng Si no longer in the team, Steve often sought out Feng Yi for conversation.

First, Feng Yi seemed more available, as the others in the team had heavy workloads. Second, Steve felt that Feng Yi, like himself, was a snake expert, and they had more in common.

" Feng Yi, do you think we'll encounter a king cobra this time?" Steve asked.

"Probably," Feng Yi replied.

If they followed the original route, Feng Yi wasn't sure if they would encounter a king cobra, but with the current route, they might.

He had just smelled a scent that felt dominant and fierce.

Although he had never seen a king cobra and wasn't sure if this scent belonged to one, his intuition told him it was likely a king cobra!

Hearing Feng Yi's response, Steve was pleased.

"Even a small king cobra would be fine. I don't have high standards; just seeing one would be satisfying!"

Feng Yi carefully recalled the scent he had just smelled and thought: This one doesn't seem small.

Steve, thinking about the king cobra, didn't pay attention while walking and slipped, twisting his ankle.

Steve's ankle was slightly sprained, but not seriously. It would heal in a couple of days. With Feng Yi, the snake-catching expert, in the team, Steve's workload was greatly reduced, giving him time to rest and recover faster.

When the team rested, Steve didn't idle. He helped Professor Zhou process samples or did other analytical work, occasionally assisting Professor Lei in filming related videos.

"Professor Zhu, I'll go collect some soil samples over there."

This was said by Professor Zhu's student, Wang Wentao.

Wang Wentao joined the team to assist Professor Zhu and to work on his doctoral dissertation.

Although he wasn't responsible for catching snakes or other targets, his workload was still significant, with tasks assigned by the team and his own dissertation work.

Professor Zhu looked around and nodded, "Sure, go collect the samples, but it's best to find someone to go with you, just in case."

Feng Yi stood up, "I'll go."

He had nothing to do, and tasks like sample collection and data analysis weren't assigned to him. Seeing everyone busy, he felt it was inappropriate to be idle and yawning.

When he heard that Wang Wentao needed someone to accompany him, he volunteered.

Wang Wentao originally planned to collect samples nearby, but with Feng Yi's company, he changed the location.

With Feng Yi's support, Wang Wentao chose a more suitable sampling point.

The new sampling point wasn't too far from the rest area, just a bit farther than the original spot.

"Are you going to collect samples here? Do you need any help?" Feng Yi asked.

"No, you can sit here and rest. Steve's injury will increase your workload, so it's best to conserve your energy," Wang Wentao said.

Feng Yi nodded, "I'll sit here. Call me if you need anything."

"Sure!"

Wang Wentao, with his tool box, studied the soil and plants.

Feng Yi, not understanding these tasks, yawned and leaned against a tree.

To conserve energy, Feng Yi almost never perceived things beyond ten meters, blocking out the scent information from his olfactory organs.

Analyzing information also consumes a lot of energy, and he was in "energy-saving mode" to avoid overexertion.

Wang Wentao stayed within ten meters of Feng Yi but gradually moved farther away as he collected samples.

With Cheng Si's injury as a precedent, Wang Wentao was more cautious. He wouldn't move too far from Feng Yi and only sampled in the nearby area, carefully examining the ground, shrubs, and other areas, using a long stick to tap and ensure there was no danger before sampling.

His careful examination paid off, and he spotted a suspicious figure nearby.

Uncertain, he cautiously took a few steps closer.

He might have startled it, and the figure under the grass began to move. As it wriggled, Wang Wentao's eyes widened.

"Wow! A king cobra! A huge king cobra! Feng Yi! Feng Yi!"

Wang Wentao shouted for Feng Yi to come and catch the snake while chasing after it, trying to intercept it.

Encountering such a large king cobra was a stroke of luck!

It was about three meters long, a large individual in the wild.

Absolutely can't let it go!

The previous two years' expedition teams didn't see a single king cobra!

Even if an expedition team saw a king cobra, it might not be as large as this one! Encountering such a large individual was extremely rare.

Knowing how rare it was to encounter such a large king cobra, Wang Wentao was very excited.

The king cobra, which was initially running forward, suddenly turned toward Wang Wentao as he approached.

Wang Wentao: !!!

King cobras can chase people.

And they chase fiercely!

The fierce and aggressive momentum was overwhelming!

Wang Wentao turned and ran back, shouting, "Feng Yi! Feng Yi!"