Chapter Six: The Gaze of the Dark Night

Orange flames licked at the dry, withered leaves, emitting a series of faint crackling sounds. The warm glow dispelled the chill in the depths of the cave, casting shifting shadows on everyone's faces, as if they were wearing ever-changing masks. This cluster of flames was the embers of civilization, and also the hope for survival. But at this moment, it was more like a mirror, reflecting the deepest turmoil and cracks in people's hearts. "That's great... there's fire..." Tang Xin, hugging her little teddy bear, almost tearfully moved closer to the fire. The relief of surviving the ordeal made her almost blindly dependent on Gu Qingshuang. The look in her eyes towards Gu Qingshuang was full of the adoration and trust of a small animal. Huo Ying leaned against the rock wall on the other side, holding her compound bow. Her constantly tense shoulders finally relaxed slightly. She didn't speak, but her sharp, wolf-like eyes, for the first time, shifted from Gu Qingshuang and began to cautiously examine the direction of the cave entrance. This was a silent acknowledgment—she entrusted her back to this fire, and to the person who lit it. Professor Chen Wang pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the flickering firelight. He watched Gu Qingshuang calmly add the dry branches she had casually picked up to the fire, her movements so skillful as if she had practiced them a thousand times. His gaze was a mixture of surprise and inquiry. This girl named Lin Weiyu, her composure and professionalism, far exceeded that of an ordinary actress. What kind of story was hidden behind this? The atmosphere subtly shifted; the balance of power, without a word spoken, had already tilted. And this was what Lei Zhe couldn't stand the most. He felt like a clown. Just a few minutes ago, he was still spouting off, playing the role of team leader, and in the blink of an eye, this woman, whom he had always considered a burden, had stolen everyone's attention with an undeniable action. That warm fire seemed to be mercilessly scorching his fragile self-esteem. "Hmph, finding a lousy cave and starting a fire, what's so great about that?" he said gruffly, trying to break the invisible aura that Gu Qingshuang had created. "Don't get too happy too soon! What do we do next? Are we just going to sit here and wait to die? What about food? What about water?" He deliberately raised his voice, trying to draw everyone's attention back to himself. He gripped the machete in his hand, as if the cold metal could give him some confidence. However, this time, there were few who agreed with him. Tang Xin glanced at him fearfully and shrank closer to Gu Qingshuang. Professor Chen and Huo Ying didn't even lift their eyelids. Just as Lei Zhe's face turned bright red and he was about to erupt, a cool, slightly sarcastic female voice rang out. "Mr. Lei is right, just having a place to stay isn't enough." Su Manqi, with her arms crossed, gracefully walked out from the shadows of the cave. She stopped at the edge of the firelight, her delicate face half-lit and half-dark, the shock in her beautiful eyes replaced by a venomous scrutiny and vigilance. "Miss Lin is truly a hidden talent; I was almost fooled by her abilities." Her words were like a sugar-coated blade, first a compliment, then a sharp turn, becoming incredibly pointed. "However, I wonder where Miss Lin learned this survival 'experience'? Could it be... that she already knew the inside story of this game?" This was an extremely insidious accusation. It cleverly attributed Gu Qingshuang's abilities to "cheating," attempting to sow seeds of suspicion and distrust within the team. If this accusation were proven true, Gu Qingshuang would instantly go from a "highly capable player" to everyone's enemy. Upon hearing this, Tang Xin indeed showed a bewildered expression. Lei Zhe, as if grasping at a lifeline, his eyes lit up, and he immediately chimed in, "That's right! How do you know everything? Finding a cave and starting a fire—it's too suspicious! Are you in league with that 'God' person?" The atmosphere in the cave instantly became tense. Faced with this sudden accusation, Gu Qingshuang didn't even turn around. She simply placed a slightly thicker branch on the fire, watching it slowly carbonize, and then spoke in a calm, almost indifferent tone: "If I had inside information, do you think you would still have the chance to stand here and question me?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer, striking hard at everyone's hearts. Yes, if she were truly one of the organizers, with the ruthlessness and absolute control that "God" had shown, these people would be nothing more than ants in the palm of his hand, their lives hanging by a thread. She wouldn't need to go to such lengths. Su Manqi's face stiffened slightly. She hadn't expected the other party's logic to be so clear, shattering her malicious accusations with a single sentence. She wanted to say something more, but Gu Qingshuang had already stood up, patted the dust off her hands, and glanced at everyone present. "Shelter, fire, water, food. These are the four essential elements of wilderness survival." She calmly stated the facts, completely ignoring the previous commotion. "We now have the first two, but the latter two are even more critical. The human body will die in three days without water. Until we find a stable water source, everything else is meaningless." She didn't argue, didn't explain, but directly brought the topic back to the essence of survival. This absolute rationality and focus made Lei Zhe and Su Manqi's carefully orchestrated attack seem like a childish squabble. Lei Zhe opened his mouth, but found himself unable to utter a single word. He had just been questioning the issues of food and water, and now the other party had already begun to address them. He felt that every step he took was accurately predicted by the other party, and then countered with decisive action. Gu Qingshuang ignored the others and walked to the entrance of the cave, pushing aside the vines to observe the outside. At this moment, the sun was setting, the clouds in the sky were stained a strange blood-red, and the light in the jungle was rapidly fading. “I’m going to find water nearby. No one is allowed to leave the cave before I return. Keep the fire burning.” She gave simple instructions, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Hey! It’s almost dark outside, and you’re going out alone?” Lei Zhe instinctively shouted, his voice betraying a hint of tension he himself hadn't noticed. “Precisely because it’s almost dark, I have to go now,” Gu Qingshuang turned back and glanced at him calmly. “The jungle at night is far more dangerous than you imagine.” With that, she didn't linger, crouching down and slipping through the vines, her small figure quickly disappearing into the twilight-shrouded jungle. Inside the cave, a deathly silence fell. Su Manqi's fingernails dug deeply into her palms. She had failed. Not only had she failed to shake Lin Weiyu's position, but she had also allowed the other woman to use this opportunity to further consolidate her invisible leadership. She watched the disappearing figure, the unpleasant premonition in her heart turning into intense jealousy and murderous intent. She couldn't understand how that fool, whom she had once manipulated so easily, had become like this. This feeling of losing control drove her almost mad. Gu Qingshuang's figure moved through the forest, her movements light and agile, as if she were one with the primitive jungle. She didn't wander around aimlessly, but observed carefully. She was observing the terrain. Water flows downhill; this is basic physics. She followed the gentle slope of the mountain wall downwards, while also paying attention to the surrounding vegetation. Soon, beneath a rock face, she found several clumps of unusually lush ferns. In this tropical environment, ferns prefer shade and moisture, and such dense growth was almost a natural indicator. She pushed aside the ferns, and sure enough, a clear stream of water was slowly seeping out from a crack in the rock face, dripping down the moss-covered rocks and collecting in a small puddle below. The water was clear and odorless. This was the highest quality spring water. She didn't immediately collect the water, but instead carefully inspected the edge of the puddle. There was no large animal droppings, only the footprints of some small birds. This indicated that it was a watering hole for creatures at the bottom of the food chain, making it relatively safe. She filled a waterproof bag from her backpack with water, and on her way back, using her vast botanical knowledge, she casually picked some tender fern stems that could replenish salt and vitamins, as well as a few sweet and sour berries that could be eaten directly. By the time she returned to the cave, it was completely dark. The people inside the cave were in a state of anxiety and unease. Gu Qingshuang's departure seemed to have taken away the only source of stability in the cave. Lei Zhe paced back and forth restlessly, while Tang Xin buried her head in her knees, trembling. When Gu Qingshuang's figure reappeared from behind the vines, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "Water," she placed the heavy water bag on the ground, "I've confirmed it's safe." Then, she handed the red berries to Tang Xin, who was almost exhausted: "Eat these, they'll replenish your sugar." Tang Xin looked up and saw the berries, glistening under the firelight. Tears welled up again, but this time, they were tears of gratitude. She carefully took them, as if they weren't just wild berries, but priceless treasures. Lei Zhe looked at the bag of clear water, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he couldn't bring himself to ask for any. Su Manqi glanced at her coldly, her expression complex. At this moment, no one questioned Gu Qingshuang's leadership anymore. She had proven, through her undeniable actions, who truly possessed the survival skills on this desolate island. The night deepened completely. Ink-like darkness enveloped the entire island, as if to swallow everything. The eerie bird calls of the daytime disappeared, replaced by the chilling rustling, hissing, and wailing sounds of countless unknown creatures in the darkness. The wind swept through the jungle, carrying with it a howling sound like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, causing the vines at the cave entrance to rustle intermittently, each time sounding as if something was lurking outside. The campfire was their only solace. They sat huddled around the fire, unable to sleep. A strong sense of fear, like an invisible hand, gripped each of their hearts. Time ticked by, minute by minute, and just as everyone's spirits were at their lowest, their consciousness about to descend into chaos— Suddenly! All sounds ceased. The noisy, vibrant chirping of insects and the roars of beasts completely disappeared in an instant. The entire jungle fell into a deathly silence, a vacuum-like stillness more terrifying than any sound. Everyone was startled awake. Huo Ying immediately gripped her bow, her muscles tensing instantly. "What's going on?" Tang Xin asked, trembling. No one answered her. Because a sound broke the silence. *Crack...* It was the sound of a dry branch being broken by a heavy object, very close, not far from the cave entrance. Then came a heavy, slow footsteps. *Thump...* *Thump...* *Thump...* Each step seemed to land on their heartbeats. The footsteps carried a sense of immense weight and oppression, something neither human nor ordinary beast could produce. It was approaching the cave entrance slowly but steadily. The air in the cave seemed to freeze. Lei Zhe's face was pale, and he gripped his machete tightly, his hands covered in cold sweat. Even Su Manqi's face, which always maintained an arrogant expression, finally showed cracks of fear. The footsteps stopped at the cave entrance. Everyone held their breath, their heartbeats almost stopping. They could feel that just beyond the thin layer of vines, a huge, unknown, terrifying presence was silently... staring at them. The next second, a low, hoarse roar, filled with violent ferocity, suddenly came from outside the cave! "Roar—!!!" The roar carried a strong scent of blood, as if it could penetrate the rock walls, making the entire cave vibrate. The vines at the cave entrance swayed wildly in a powerful gust of wind, revealing a bottomless, despair-inducing darkness outside. Crisis, in the deepest of nights, had arrived with brutal force.