A Break in the Jungle

The sunlight was so scorching that moving for two hours without replenishing fluids could lead to dehydration.

Therefore, Lu Zhe chose to enter the jungle from the southwest side's mangrove forest to avoid the blistering sunlight.

The main purpose of entering the jungle this time was to look for waterproof materials. Of course, if they encountered other useful supplies, they would collect them too, such as berry, nut and different medicinal herb species that provide vitamins, edible mushrooms and algae, etc.

Checking the survival manual:

In nature, there is more than one material that can be used as a waterproof coating.

The easiest to obtain is the mixture of burnt paper, grass and wood ash blended with oil to make a primitive glaze.

The advantage of this material is that it can hold water after being generously applied to bamboo baskets and left to dry.

The downside is its poor durability. Over time, it would be soaked through and lose its effectiveness. Therefore, it is not suitable for waterproofing reservoirs in the long run.

Somewhat more reliable options are certain resins from the torchwood family plants, the rubber tree, and pine resin.

However, dammar resin, which is easily found near the southwestern ridges of the small island, is very rare here.

After two hours of searching in the jungle, Lu Zhe and Shen Bing had only collected about one kilogram of resin. Far from enough to coat the entire water reservoir.

Should they climb mountains and traverse streams to get more from that place? It would be better to look for pine resin in the northern pine forest!

It was 10 AM now!

The temperature had reached over 35 degrees Celsius. The sweltering weather coupled with the harsh environment made every step require tremendous strength!

But this was no longer an issue for Lu Zhe! With his physiology enhanced nearly 8 times and his strength amplified by almost 6 times, he had no problem moving around under such heat.

Although he would still feel a little thirsty and uncomfortable, there was absolutely no risk of dehydration or fainting.

Shen Bing was having a harder time, barely keeping up with Lu Zhe's pace thanks to her years of unremitting exercise strengthening her constitution.

"What do you eat to grow up so resilient, don't you feel tired at all!" Shen Bing panted.

Hearing her labored breathing, Lu Zhe realized that if they kept going, Shen Bing would surely collapse.

"Let's take a break!"

"Sure!"

Lu Zhe took off his vest and wrung it forcefully, squeezing out a lot of sweat.

Shen Bing gasped for air and also removed her vest, using it to wipe the sweat from her neck and forehead instead.

On her upper body she only wore a sports bra, which showed off her figure sculpted from years of disciplined fitness training, shapely and full of primitive charm.

"Have some water!" Lu Zhe passed her the bottle.

Shen Bing took it and started chugging greedily.

"Hey, slow down, you might hurt your lungs."

She drank half the bottle, then wiped her mouth and gave it back to Lu Zhe: "No worries, I know my limits. You should drink some too."

Though they both had water left, they tacitly shared the one bottle. Perhaps this was the so-called atmosphere.

After drinking up, it still wasn't enough.

Lu Zhe took out another bottle, drank a couple mouthfuls and handed it to Shen Bing. Shen Bing smiled coyly, accepted it and downed it all in one go.

"Look at you, your stamina is impressive too. When we get back, we can be gym coaches together!" Shen Bing joked.

Lu Zhe shook his head: "No good!"

"Why not?"

"You're so gorgeous with such a hot bod, the number of creepy guys lining up to ogle during your classes would be insane. I'd be constantly jealous and afraid we'd have a falling out that I'd end up sobbing alone at night." As he said this, Lu Zhe deliberately put on a slight look of dejection.

Shen Bing giggled at his teasing: "Well, you'd also get plenty of pretty girls signing up for your classes!"

Lu Zhe shook his head again: "That's why I don't want to give them any chance in the first place. You know me, I'm a loyal man! My heart belongs only to you five!"

"Oh stop it, keep this up and you'll completely ruin the meaning of the word 'loyal'."

With that said, Shen Bing leaned against a tree and lifted her feet onto Lu Zhe's lap: "My feet are sore, give your big sis a massage."

"Ah..."

Shen Bing tilted her head coyly: "Aren't I your beloved young miss? You wouldn't even do this tiny favor?"

"Fine!"

Reluctantly, Lu Zhe started massaging Shen Bing's feet.

Proportional to her height, Shen Bing's feet were not big, around sizes 36-37.

Her arches were slender and graceful, toenails neatly trimmed with nail clippers.

They felt fine to hold in his hands, not unpleasant at all.

Shen Bing was exceptionally comfortable, her expressions becoming more animated: "Mm... Lu Zhe, I just realized you'd make an excellent..."

Lu Zhe quickly cut her off: "Stop! Even if I go back I won't become a foot masseuse!"

Shen Bing deliberately showed disappointment: "What a shame! Ah... go lighter... yeah, that hits the spot..."

Under the scorching sun yet cool forest shade, chatting away while giving a foot rub, both of them started feeling drowsy. Perhaps due to inadequate sleep last night.

"Mm... feeling sleepy, gonna take a nap!"

"Sure, me too!" Lu Zhe set an alarm on his watch: "One hour timer."

They gathered a few banana leaves to pad the ground, then used each other's lap as a pillow and drifted off.

Before the alarm rang, Lu Zhe keenly sensed an intruder approaching, jolting him awake.

He secretly opened his eyes to a slit, and spotted a proboscis monkey cautiously watching them from not far away - likely the one they had chased out of the bear cave.

But clearly, it had returned harboring less than honorable intentions.

Lu Zhe decided to keep pretending to sleep and observe its actions.

After a while, seeing no reaction from Lu Zhe and Shen Bing, it gradually crept closer.

Then, it started rummaging through their bags!

Its sausage-like nose twitched intensely, seemingly extremely nervous.

Finally, it fished out a bottle of water from a bag!

Upon laying eyes on this bottle, its gaze seemed to light up, immediately gnawing at the container.

Fortunately the bottle was quite sturdy and round, leaving the monkey at a complete loss on where to start biting.

It was clearly parched.

Just then, Shen Bing suddenly opened her eyes and fluidly spun into an agile side kick, squarely striking the proboscis monkey's head!

She had used considerable force, actually kicking the monkey silly.

Just as it was about to flee with the bottle, Lu Zhe also sprang up and tackled it to the ground.

He then took out some rope from his pouch and tied it up!

"You dare to steal from me, do you know what I used to do for a living?"

Originally intending to teach it a good lesson, Shen Bing was surprised to see the proboscis monkey directly faint from the kick and tackle combo.

Lu Zhe examined the monkey and noticed its dry nose, some foam at the mouth corners - signs of dehydration.

It was also then that Lu Zhe discovered something else!

It wasn't actually unconscious at all. Merely playing dead!

Lu Zhe said: "It's also thirsty, wandering around looking for fresh water sources. And found its way here."

Shen Bing frowned: "When there's lakes and mountain springs in the northern highlands, it refuses to go there yet dares to steal from us here!"

"But that place isn't its territory!"

Lu Zhe pondered: "Despite being a thief, on humanitarian grounds I don't wish to watch it die like this. Have to give it some fluids!"

With that said, Lu Zhe took an empty bottle, turned around, undid his belt and after a moment the sound of flowing water could be heard. Soon after he had filled the entire bottle.

Then he pried open its mouth and poured the whole bottle down its throat.