Walking in such heavy rain is enough to drive a person to despair.
"Let's go to the Bird's Nest! We'll continue walking once the rain subsides a bit!" Lu Zhe responded loudly.
The two of them sought shelter in the Bird's Nest!
The ingenuity of this suspended bird's nest was evident. It was located under a giant tree, with a layer of rainproof plastic sheeting on top, ensuring that even in heavy rain, the interior remained dry!
Currently, it was the best refuge for Ning Shu and Lu Zhe.
The only downside was that they couldn't start a fire.
Fortunately, the bottom of the volcano wasn't too cold, just a little dark. The space was somewhat cramped, preventing them from lying flat like in other shelters. They could only sit or curl up inside.
But for them at this moment, it was already sufficient.
The two of them sat facing each other in the shelter. Ning Shu couldn't see Lu Zhe, but Lu Zhe could see the shy and expectant look on Ning Shu's face.
"Hey, Lu Zhe, I can't stretch my legs out because you're sitting across from me!"
"Do you want me to scoot to the side?"
"No need!" Ning Shu said, "But I'll take off my shoes anyway and rest my feet on your hands."
"Just to warm them up."
Lu Zhe gentlemanly held her feet. His palms were warm, and she felt comfortable. The atmosphere between them began to change slightly.
"Hey, Lu Zhe, I heard that oysters are good for men, you should eat them regularly! And geoduck too, they're both nourishing delicacies."
"What do you mean? Do I need that kind of stuff?"
"Let me tell you. I've read many romance novels, and many men think they're great, but when they get on the battlefield, they surrender within half an hour. They end up losing their wives and homes. Later, they take some powerful pills to restore their former virility."
Lu Zhe forced a bitter smile, "Are you reading romance novels or those male enhancement ads stuffed in between?"
"That's not important, but I have to say, your time with Bing Jie was indeed short. The male leads in novels usually last for at least two hours!"
"I've already said it, I'm worried about you all catching a cold in the rain."
"Is that so?" Ning Shu pursed her lips, a hint of doubt in her tone.
"Of course, don't others know if you don't? Each time it's you who begs for mercy."
"That's because it's uncomfortable and painful. Besides, it doesn't take long."
"If you want it to be longer, it's not impossible!"
"Hey, what are you saying! I may be theoretically inexperienced, but I'm still your girlfriend. Some things are meant to be experienced sooner or later. Since you're so eager, I'll reluctantly allow it once."
Lu Zhe wanted to say who was eager, but in the end, she was the woman he loved. He had to give her some face, but was it really the right time now?
Who cares!
A man's dignity must be protected at this moment!
He checked his backpack and felt a bit regretful. "But I didn't bring any protection."
"I did..."
Ning Shu reached out and placed a whole row of square packets into Lu Zhe's hand.
Lu Zhe was somewhat surprised.
"I mean, do you really need to bring so many?"
"You said this thing can be used as a tourniquet, an oxygen cylinder, a slingshot, a magnifying glass, a life jacket, and so on, right? Since it's a survival tool, what's wrong with bringing more of it?"
"Does that actually make sense?"
Ning Shu smirked and said, "Of course it does. As the class monitor, I have to consider everything and be prepared for any situation, right?"
"Right..."
...
The rain poured heavily, and the birds and beasts sought shelter in their nests.
The lightning acted as nature's flashlight, intermittently illuminating the bottom of the volcano, only to plunge it into darkness again in an instant.
One or two seconds later, the thunder rolled in with a resounding boom, causing a throbbing pain in people's heads.
The hanging bird nests swayed in accordance with all the laws of physics, and the branches made a creaking sound, instantly drowned out by the sound of raindrops hitting the leaves.
It lasted for a full three hours!
The rain finally subsided, but the sky did not brighten!
And at this moment, Ning Shu also felt that she had finally let go of her lingering worries.
"I was worried for nothing. It seems like you're really okay..."
"Nonsense, I still have the energy!"
"Hey, hey, hey, enough already! This place is too narrow, and my waist is about to break...!"
"Well, then please don't accuse me of taking too little time in the future!"
"Hey, Lu Zhe..." Ning Shu suddenly became serious. "Talking aside, despite the chaos, this experience is much better than before!"
"Yeah, I don't feel much difference."
"Also, what needs to be replenished should be replenished. It's for your own good."
"Thank you!"
Looking at the watch, it was already past 8 o'clock in the evening.
Even without the dark clouds, it was time for darkness to fall.
The two of them ate some fruits, left the shelter of the bird nest, and climbed back up using the rope.
The nighttime hot spring had risen slightly in temperature, but due to the continuous influx of rainwater, the temperature remained within a range acceptable to humans.
However, because there were many monkeys frequenting this area, Lu Zhe and Ning Shu didn't feel like soaking here for long.
Lu Zhe held Ning Shu's hand and carefully searched for a relatively calm spot in the rushing stream, slowly making their way back to the campsite.
They submerged themselves in the lake again, bypassed the turbulent mountain stream, and landed on the other side.
Ning Shu wasn't worried because she understood that as long as she stayed close to this man, even if they were in the midst of danger, he could easily lead her out.
At 9:30 pm, they finally arrived at the campsite!
They didn't have much to show for it, just a few bags of fruits and some bird eggs.
And at this moment, four girls were waiting at the entrance of the cave, each holding a candle!
Lu Zhe and Ning Shu exchanged a smile. It felt good to have someone who cared!
"Have you eaten?"
"We cooked instant noodles for lunch, but we haven't eaten anything for dinner!"
Lu Zhe nodded. "Let's have some fruits to fill our stomachs for now. I'll go kill the python, and we'll have a good meal."
Shen Bing felt sorry for Lu Zhe and said, "It's too late today. Let's do it tomorrow!"
Lu Zhe looked at the python, undeterred, and shook his head firmly. "After all, it's still a life. After enduring the whole day's torment, it still bravely fights against its fate. This spirit is moving! Let me end its suffering with the utmost effort!"
With those words, Lu Zhe jumped down, holding an axe, searching for a stone and firmly pressing down on the snake's head with his right foot!
With one swing of the axe, the snake's head and body were split in two.
The snake's head flew far away, but Lu Zhe picked it up, as if it still retained a trace of consciousness. "Rest in peace, I will remember you," he said, tossing the head to the mother pouch wolf.
The mother pouch wolf stretched lazily, elegantly nibbling on the head.
Lu Zhe began dissecting the python.
He took out the large stone inside its body and discovered a row of python eggs. He removed them all, ready to be boiled in water.
Then, he proceeded with a thorough dissection.
Some parts were placed in jars and preserved with salt, while others were cut into pieces and hung over the fire to smoke slowly.
The remaining pieces were chopped and cooked together with chili, pandan leaves, wild mint, and other ingredients.
As the fragrance wafted through the air, everyone took a bamboo bowl.
In the late night, they drank the python soup, watched the night rain, and engaged in heartfelt conversations. Each person felt a long-lost sense of contentment and happiness.