Chapter 10

Zhu Zilong's precious hidden items naturally could not be placed in a cave by the seaside. Instead, they were in a cave near the forest close to the village he first encountered. The distance from that village to the Zhang family's residence was about ten to twelve li.

However, for Zhu Zilong, who was now as fit as a special forces soldier and knew the route well, this was a small matter. The average walking speed for humans is 5-10 kilometers per hour, with an average of around 8 kilometers. This is the speed at which you typically walk to school or work. At this speed, an average adult can maintain walking for about 7 hours (children and the elderly are not considered). 7 hours × 8 kilometers = 56 kilometers. If it's a soldier, athlete, or a young person with good physical condition, the speed and endurance can be significantly higher.

However, soldiers usually carry dozens of kilograms of equipment, which is why ancient soldiers could only walk 50-60 li per day. Even cavalry could only travel about 300 li per day on average. The idea of traveling a thousand li in a day is a myth. If horses were to run a thousand li every day, they would all die. Then, everyone would have to walk home?

However, Zhu Zilong, after being transformed by the dragon egg liquid, has reached the peak of human physical condition. For example, now, Zhu Zilong put on running shoes, carried a travel bag that was mostly empty, and ran with a speed that was incredibly fast.

Indeed, he has been running, not walking. Most people would walk halfway through a 10,000-meter run, but he has been running the entire time, showing an abnormal level of stamina and endurance. And this is not even the most abnormal part.

If a modern person were to measure his speed, they would be shocked. Zhu Zilong's running speed is nearly 70 kilometers per hour. It took him only ten minutes to travel from the Zhang family's residence to the village where his items were hidden.

A recent study in the United States suggests that one day, humans might be able to run at speeds of up to 64 kilometers per hour, which is 16 kilometers faster than the current world record holder, Usain Bolt. Matthew Bundle, a co-author of the study from the University of Wyoming, said, "We speculate that the maximum or near-maximum force-generating capacity of muscles might allow humans to run at speeds of 56-64 kilometers per hour, or even faster."

Zhu Zilong has already achieved what the scientists predict, and he is not even at his full potential. Consider that a normal Mongolian horse can travel 90 kilometers in 5 hours, and its sprinting speed is about 60 kilometers per hour. However, Zhu Zilong, even without running at full speed, is faster than a horse's sprinting speed. Is this even human?

Cavalry? Please, Zhu Zilong's speed is almost like a form of light kung fu. If faced with danger and running at full speed, the cavalry would be left behind, staring in amazement, only able to follow in his dust!

This is definitely like a human motorcycle or a super cheetah. Seeing no one around, Zhu Zilong entered the forest near the village and headed towards the cave where his items were hidden. For safety, he took out a high-intensity flashlight from his travel bag and held it in his right hand.

This flashlight was purchased from a classmate who worked as a temporary police officer. It cost him several hundred to nearly a thousand yuan. He didn't use it for lighting, as he now has night vision like an animal (would a half-dragon not have night vision?).

He took it out to be prepared, as the forests in ancient times were not like those in modern times, where any kind of animal could be present. Think of Wu Song fighting a tiger, wolf packs attacking livestock, elephants entering fields, wild boars rampaging, pythons passing by, and even a lion suddenly appearing. One must be cautious!

Some might say, "There are no lions in China." Yes, China does not have native lions, but during the Ming Dynasty, there were some exotic species. Lions were introduced to China during the Han Dynasty. According to legend, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the kingdom of Da Yuezhi in the Western Regions presented a golden-haired lion as a gift to the Chinese emperor. Later, with the spread of Buddhism, lions became revered as spiritual animals.

By the Tang Dynasty, high-ranking monk Hui Lin said, "The lion is also known as the suanni, which comes from the Western Regions." Gradually, lions became symbols of good fortune and guardians of gates.

From the Han Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, over 1,000 years have passed. During this time, many foreign lions were presented to China, and these lions reproduced. With the change of dynasties, some of these lions were released into the wild. Who can guarantee that there were no lions in the forests of the Ming Dynasty?

Just yesterday, while at the Zhang family's residence, Zhu Zilong overheard a conversation about an elephant that had wandered into a field. In fact, it wasn't until the modern era that elephants were confined to areas near the national borders. During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, even the capital had records of elephants living nearby. This can be verified by historical records.

Because he now considers himself a half-dragon and has a high-intensity flashlight for self-defense, Zhu Zilong, who was once an ordinary person, would never have dared to enter the forests of the Ming Dynasty at night.

The police-issue high-intensity flashlight is an important piece of equipment. It was available on Taobao in 2020. It has an aggressive front with serrations that can cause pain and subdue an attacker. The strobe function can temporarily blind and disorient an attacker, providing a means of self-defense. It is also waterproof and fireproof.

Of course, the most important function is that it can generate a high-voltage pulse through a transformer, which can stun or cause shock to any living being it contacts. According to online descriptions and videos uploaded by hikers, this device can instantly paralyze a horse or a wolf. For Chinese citizens who cannot own firearms, especially women, it is an important self-defense tool.

It looks like a regular flashlight and can be used to crack walnuts. When a pervert appears, just zap them. It's perfect!

At this moment!

Cautiously advancing, Zhu Zilong finally reached the cave in the forest where his items were hidden. Just as he was about to relax, his hair stood on end, and a sense of danger immediately flooded his mind.

Animals have an instinctive sense of danger, and so does a half-dragon. He turned his head and fixed his gaze on a patch of grass in the distance.

In the next second, he tightly gripped the high-intensity flashlight, beads of sweat forming on his palms and forehead. Instinctively, he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Trouble, talking about lions, and here comes one," Zhu Zilong muttered with a bitter smile.

Human vs. lion, who will win?