Chapter 213 - Death Zone
Chapter 213: Death Zone
The driver for Qin Haodong was still the bareheaded Xie Zidan, but compared with the previous days, Xie Zidan’s attitude had changed significantly. He never spoke to Qin Haodong at all in the past, but now he began to talk with him.
Although he had spent 2 million yuan, he was very grateful to Qin Haodong. Without him, he would have died in the hands of the Devilish Five.
Two Hummers slowly marched on for another day, getting closer and closer to their destination towards evening.
“Are we near our destination?” Hu Xiaoxian asked.
“Let me see.” As Xie Zidan said, he opened the car’s electronic map to see how far away they were from the destination they had marked.
“We are indeed approaching the destination. At this rate, tomorrow afternoon we will be there, but the journey ahead will be more and more dangerous.
“The area ahead is called the Death Zone. According to previous investigations, 18 expeditions have been there, but they disappeared completely after entering the Death Zone, even without any trace.”
He was talking, and suddenly the electronic map flickered and turned into a white screen with nothing on it.
“What’s the matter? Is there no signal here? Our car is connected to a military satellite signal, and it can’t be interrupted.”
Xie Zidan talked and operated the electronic map, but the screen was still blank and there was no response.
Hu Xiaoxian took out her mobile phone and looked at it for a moment and said, “Our mobile phones are also connected with military satellite, but now there is no signal at all.”
Xie Zidan sighed and said, “This place is really strange, no wonder those expeditions came in without any information, because there is no signal for any electronic equipment here.”
Qin Haodong said, “This is normal, otherwise, it would not have been called the death zone.”
Xie Zidan said, “Doctor Qin, we have to come because we have a task on us. If you have nothing to do, you might as well quit. It’s too dangerous here. Besides, you still have a child with you.”
Qin Haodong knew his good intentions and laughed. “The medicines I want to collect are only in the death zone. If I quit now, all my previous efforts will be wasted.”
As they were talking, the Hummer drove into a small valley, about one square kilometer in area. Unlike the outside, there were no big plants but only green grass here. It was a pleasant moment to enter the valley from the dense forest.
The most amazing thing was that there was a pool in the center of the valley. The pool was not too big, but very limpid. There was also an island of 20 or 30 square meters in the middle of the pool. This structure made people wonder about the magic of the Creator.
At this time, the sun was setting, and there was not much light in the forest, but it was dyed golden by sunset glow. The scenery was very beautiful.
“Papa, it’s beautiful here, like the world in fairy tales.” The little fellow jumped happily in Qin Haodong’s arms. Staying in the forest for many days really made her feel a little bored.
But after entering here, Qin Haodong frowned and Hu Xiaoxian, who was in a good mood, looked at him and asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like here?”
“Not that I don’t like here, but I have a bad feeling.”
He practiced divination which was indeed a sign of great evil.
Then the Hummer in front stopped and Lei Tianrui and others alighted and began to unload their equipment. It seemed that they were ready to camp near the pool.
Qin Haodong said to Hu Xiaoxian, “I don’t feel very good about this place. Ask them if we can go ahead and camp elsewhere.”
Hu Xiaoxian said, “Are you tired? I think it’s very good here. It’s very suitable for camping.”
Qin Haodong said solemnly, “If you believe me, change the place. I’m not joking at all.”
“Well, I’ll go and tell them.”
Hu Xiaoxian admired the magical performance of Qin Haodong along the way. Although she liked the beautiful scenery here very much, she decided to believe in Qin Haodong.
Despite the ominous atmosphere, it could not be denied that the scenery here was really beautiful. Qin Haodong also got out with the little fellow and circled around the pool.
The depth of the pool was 3 or 4 meters, the width was 12 or 13 meters, the pool water was so limpid that the pebbles at the bottom could be seen clearly, and there were some unknown fish swimming around. Maybe these fish had never seen human beings, so they didn’t show any fear and swam freely disregarding Qin Haodong and the little fellow.
At this time, Hu Xiaoxian came to Lei Tianrui and said, “Let’s not camp here, go ahead and find a better place to camp.”
Lei Tianrui said, “Xiaoxian, are you silly? How beautiful the scenery here is! It’s a fairyland on earth. Camping here is perfect.”
Hu Xiaoxian said, “Haodong said that he didn’t feel good about this place. It’s very likely that there will be a danger. We’d better change the place.”
Hearing that it was Qin Haodong’s idea, Lei Tianrui’s face suddenly turned cold.
Dong Sihai scornfully said, “Xiaoxian, you mustn’t listen to him. He’s just a doctor. He’s only good at treating diseases. I’m a jungle expert. No one could equal me in surviving in the wild.”
As he pointed around, he said, “Look at the environment here, beauty is secondary, and safety is the most important thing. There are no tall trees around, and if there are wild animals, we can find them immediately. Even if there is an irresistible situation, there is still an island in the pool, and we can go to the island to avoid danger.”
“I’ve spent more than ten years in the forest, and I’ve never seen a better place for camping than here. He said it was not good here. I can only say that he’s too ignorant.”
Then he turned his head directly, almost shouting at Qin Haodong.
Zhao Qiankun also said, “Yes, Xiaoxian, you don’t listen to him in everything. We are members of Xuanyuan Pavilion. The lowest level among us is of 9th grade of Overt Power. We have experienced countless hardships and dangers, so we don’t have to listen to the nonsense of a gigolo man.”
“You can oppose him, but there’s no need to insult him.”
Hu Xiaoxian was not satisfied with these people’s attitude towards Qin Haodong, but she also felt that they had some truth. This place really looked very suitable for camping.
Qin Haodong heard the conversation of them. He stepped over and said, “I just expressed my suggestions. It’s up to you to believe me or not.”
Dong Sihai scornfully said, “We won’t believe you. I’m a jungle expert. There will be no safe place if here is dangerous.”
Qin Haodong didn’t say any more. Anyway, he had already made suggestions. He was confident that he could protect the little fellow and Hu Xiaoxian even if there was a danger. As for the others, he wouldn’t care.
“What a charlatan. You’re a little doctor, yet you even pretend to be a jungle expert.” Zhao Qiankun spoke and spat on the ground. He was the stingiest person in his daily life. Now he was taken away 3 million yuan by Qin Haodong. He had already hated Qin Haodong to death in his heart.
Dong Sihai said, “Boss, don’t worry. It’s far from the forest, not suitable for hunting. I’ll see what he eats tonight.”
Zhao Qiankun said, “That’s right. He will come and beg us when he runs out of food…”
He was talking, and suddenly a heavy aroma greeted them. They turned around and saw that Qin Haodong had set up a bonfire and was baking four or five delicious fresh fish on the fire.
And besides grilled fish, there was wine and meat over there, which was a sumptuous meal.
Wang Yuancheng exclaimed in surprise, “My God, is he Doraemon? How could there be so much food in such a small backpack?”
Lei Tianrui’s face also changed. Although they were well equipped, they only had some dry food and ready-to-eat meat products, which were much worse than Qin Haodong’s.
He had intended to use food to threaten Qin Haodong and take back the 30 million yuan he had given to him. Now the plan was in vain.
Zhao Qiankun said, “No, we must think of other ways.”
Lei Tianrui said, “In fact, it’s easy to make trouble for him. From the beginning to the end, he’s hitchhiking with us. Just ask him for some fares.”
Zhao Qiankun patted his head and said, “Yes, I didn’t think of this idea. This guy and his daughter take our Hummer every day, it’s not much to charge him a million yuan a day.”
Lei Tianrui said, “How can 1 million yuan a day be enough? We gave him 30 million yuan. It took 30 days to recover all the money. We didn’t have much time, so we should charge him 5 million yuan a day.”
“I see, sir,” Zhao Qiankun cried excitedly, “I’ll go and ask him for money now. If he doesn’t pay, he’ll walk by himself tomorrow.”
Qin Haodong was picking out fish bones for the little fellow. When Zhao Qiankun came over, he said, “Why are you here? Don’t tell me you are asking protection money again.”
Zhao Qiankun, with a dull look, said cheekily, “We don’t want any protection money. You have to pay some fares when you ride in our car every day. Our boss said that if you didn’t pay 5 million yuan a day, you could only walk on your own.”
Hu Xiaoxian said angrily, “Five million? Why don’t you rob? Although these two Hummers have been refitted, the price is about 3 million. You want to charge 5 million a day. Aren’t you too crazy about money?”
Zhao Qiankun said argumentatively, “That’s different. Here is Shennongjia. If you walk, it’s more dangerous. You have to pay special money in special places. It’s worth 5 million yuan a day.”
In fact, Qin Haodong didn’t care whether he had a ride or not, and now he was near the underground palace. It would be more convenient for him to set off alone with the little fellow.
But just then, at the edge of the basin came the roar of a wild animal, and a huge leopard rushed towards them.
“Oh, there are beasts!”
Hu Xiaoxian pulled out Purple Flash Sword from her waist and stood in front of Qin Haodong and the little fellow.
“Useless man, rely on women’s protection!” Zhao Qiankun seemed to have finally found a chance to show off. He pulled a single knife from his back and rushed towards the leopard. As he walked, he said, “Let’s see what a man is today.”
But he had just run out a short distance and was stunned with a dull look. There was not only a leopard in front of him. All kinds of wild animals rushed in from the edge of the basin one after another, including black bears, tigers and wolves, rhinoceroses, zebras and yellow sheep. These wild animals had joined together, but the leopard was the fastest, so he rushed in first.
Zhao Qiankun couldn’t care about much. He turned his head and ran back. He could no longer care to show that he was a pure man. So many beasts would trample him to death if they didn’t bite him. He was only of 9th grade of Overt Power, so, it was impossible for him to fight so many beasts even if he was upgraded to a higher level.
Not only him, but everyone here got nervous. Lei Tianrui shouted to Dong Sihai, “What’s wrong?”
Dong Sihai said with a blank face, “I don’t know. I’ve never seen such a situation before. It’s like a legendary beast tide.”