Chapter 1

Wei Da walked through the dense primeval forest with a cheerful mood, though he looked a bit shabby. However, this was not a problem for him; he was not a model concerned about his appearance. He was enjoying this trip.

His large travel bag was filled with some necessary items. In his left hand, he held a stick he had picked up to use as a walking stick, and in his right hand, he carried a knife, which he used not only to clear the way but also to deal with emergencies. His long-sleeved T-shirt, dirty and tightly clinging to his body, was covered in sweat, and some dead branches and leaves had fallen into his hair. In just half a day, the originally clean and tidy young man had become a rather ragged figure.

Traversing this primeval forest was quite challenging, and with his current appearance, Wei Da looked like someone on the run. Otherwise, why would he be running into the deep mountains and forests?

In fact, Wei Da was a travel enthusiast. He also wanted to conduct a survey. Taking advantage of his vacation back home and saving a bit of money, Wei Da was naturally a bit restless. During his time abroad, he had traveled a lot and needed to do some research for his thesis. Although researching materials was good, field investigations would make his thesis more flawless.

Wei Da's target this time was the Shennongjia. Shennongjia is named after the legendary Shennong, one of the ancestors of the Chinese nation, who built a wooden ladder to climb the mountains, taste hundreds of herbs, and save the people from illness. The long geological changes and relatively isolated natural environment have endowed Shennongjia with rich natural resources. Although China has been making great efforts in environmental protection in recent years, and there have been some improvements in some areas, it often causes more concern. However, the environment in Shennongjia has been largely unaffected.

Studying natural science, coming to this well-deserved "gene bank of species," "natural zoo," and "green treasure house" was a great choice.

"Damn!" Feeling the raindrops falling in this dense forest, Wei Da couldn't help but curse.

Shennongjia has abundant water resources. Due to the alternating influence of the warm and humid southeast monsoon and the dry and cold continental high pressure throughout the year, and the regulation of heat and precipitation by the high mountain forests, it has a pleasant climate with no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter. Of course, the vertical microclimate in Shennongjia is obvious, and the phenomenon of "sunrise in the east and rain in the west" often occurs. In summer, such showers are even more frustrating.

Finding a relatively sheltered spot under a large tree, Wei Da sat down temporarily. In such a deep forest, there was no hope of getting a cell phone signal. After half a day, Wei Da felt he had entered quite deep into the mountains. If not for his adequate preparation and relatively rich experience, Wei Da would never have entered such a primeval forest alone, as it was somewhat dangerous.

Wei Da was already 25 years old. Born into a farming family, he, like many rural children, came from a family with average conditions and no background. Therefore, studying was his best way out and was considered the best choice for many rural families to achieve success.

Wei Da was quite ambitious. He attended a well-known university in China. He originally thought that attending university would help him stand out and make his parents live a better life. However, his major in natural science was relatively obscure, and with the expansion of university enrollment, college graduates were no longer the elite. So, Wei Da decided to study abroad to enhance his qualifications, as "sea turtles" (returnees) were quite popular.

Wei Da knew his choice was somewhat selfish, but even without a full scholarship, his parents were very supportive, despite the significant pressure. They always supported his decision to study abroad, and his relatives had also provided a lot of help to his family over the past two years. Otherwise, the high tuition fees would have made him give up on studying abroad.

Although life abroad was tough, Wei Da remained hopeful. He was optimistic and believed that after graduation, he would definitely make his parents live a better life and achieve success. Wei Da was always happy, knowing that a day of smiling is a day, and a day of unhappiness is also a day. He had no reason not to be happy, having experienced many difficulties, and he now believed that tomorrow would be better.

Patiently waiting, he knew that in such a deep forest, unexpected things would happen. Although the rain disrupted his plans, he remained optimistic. With some free time, Wei Da even fiddled with the digital camera hanging around his neck.

Since he was conducting a survey, a camera was definitely needed. Wei Da didn't have enough money to buy high-end equipment, but a digital camera could still capture fleeting moments. At this moment, he even fantasized about photographing the legendary wild man, which would be quite interesting.

The legend of the wild man in Shennongjia has a long history. Although some people claim to have seen the wild man, there is still no sufficient visual evidence, making the wild man a mystery. Since he was in Shennongjia, Wei Da hoped to see the wild man, even though he was past the age of dreaming and fantasizing. Sometimes, being a bit naive wasn't a bad thing.

Fortunately, it was just a shower. Although some rain still dripped from the leaves and branches above, Wei Da was quite satisfied. The air after the rain in the primeval forest was not necessarily fresh, and the mixture of dead leaves, soil, and sweat was quite uncomfortable. Even without a phobia of dirt, Wei Da still hoped to wash up and feel refreshed.

Shennongjia has abundant water resources. After a difficult trek of nearly half an hour, Wei Da finally found a small stream. He cheered, threw his backpack on the ground, took off his mud-covered hiking shoes, and plunged directly into the stream. The comfort was indescribable, like a delicious meal when you are starving. He buried his head in the water, and in this unpolluted environment, the clear stream water was transparent. Wiping the water from his face, Wei Da felt extremely satisfied.

Sitting in the stream for a few minutes, Wei Da took off his shirt and washed his body simply. Although he was enjoying it, this trip was not for pleasure. Despite the pleasant time by the stream, he still needed to continue his journey.

"One more refreshing dip, and then I'll get up!" Wei Da decided to continue his journey but also enjoy the cool, refreshing water.

"Huh?" When Wei Da buried his head in the water, he was suddenly attracted by a small object at the bottom of the stream, which emitted a faint glow. Opening his eyes in the water was not a problem, as the water was very clear, and Wei Da had no worries.

"Damn, I hit the jackpot!" Looking at the small jade plaque in his hand, which was less than five centimeters long and about two centimeters wide, Wei Da was grateful. However, he was also puzzled. Although Shennongjia has rich mineral resources, he had never heard of jade.

Looking at the crystal-clear, pure, and delicate jade plaque, Wei Da first thought of white jade. This must have been dropped by someone; naturally occurring jade would not have such a fine quality. Wei Da was not an expert in jade, but he knew that even though the jade plaque was small, it would be very valuable if it was genuine.

Holding it up to the sun, Wei Da felt joyful because of this unexpected find. Wei Da did not have a moral phobia. Although he knew he shouldn't take what wasn't his, in such a remote and wild place, he also knew that treasures belong to those who deserve them. Finding this jade was Wei Da's luck.