Wilderness Survival

Huo Xuan effortlessly caught the half-eaten rabbit and grinned. "Thanks." He tore off a chunk and chewed with relish.

Despite her hatred, Shangguan Meixue had unconsciously curled up beside him to sleep. She awoke to his shaking, finding the U.S. military jacket draped over her—warm and surprisingly comforting.

Blinking away sleep, she saw Huo Xuan's unusually stern expression as he whispered, "We need to move."

It took her a few seconds to fully wake. Glancing eastward at the pale dawn, she frowned. "So urgent? My whole body aches—I can barely move."

Huo Xuan's voice was ice. "Stay if you want. But the Americans will be here soon."

Her stomach lurched. She scrambled up. "Let's go."

This time, they moved at a brisk walk rather than a sprint. After an hour, Shangguan Meixue began lagging, frequently stopping to rub her sore legs.

Huo Xuan ignored her, forging ahead without a backward glance. Another half hour passed before she snapped, "Are you blind? I'm dying here!"

He turned, baffled. "Your death—why should I care?"

"You—!"

Rage somehow overpowered exhaustion. She caught up, muttering nonstop—uncharacteristic for her usual composure.

"You're the worst kind of scoundrel!"

"If I were your superior, I'd fire you on the spot!"

"Damn you... my legs... sob..."

Four hours in, the tears came again—her second breakdown.

Huo Xuan finally halted, exasperation written across his face. "You'll be the death of me." He squinted ahead. "Ten more miles to a river. We'll rest there."

He marched on—then stopped when Shangguan Meixue remained rooted, sitting pitifully while staring at her legs.

His penetrating vision revealed blood blisters. No wonder she's crying. With a sigh, he crouched again. "Get on."

She clung to his back instantly, arms looped around his neck, relief palpable.

Burdened, Huo Xuan moved faster. Miles later, her feverish cheek pressed against his shoulder—she'd dozed off. The unnatural heat worried him. Sickness here means death.

Cursing inwardly, he accelerated.

The river emerged soon enough. Animals drank cautiously along its banks. Nearby marshes teemed with waterfowl.

Avoiding the wetlands, Huo Xuan chose firmer ground. The river—three meters wide, shallow in parts, over two meters deep elsewhere—hid lurking crocodiles.

He set Shangguan Meixue down. "Wait. I'll get food." Wading into shallows, he snatched a two-pound fish mid-swim and tossed it ashore. "Guard it."

Five more followed. Despite her fever, Shangguan Meixue's eyes lit up at the haul. She stunned each fish with a rock to the head.

As Huo Xuan turned to leave, her shriek pierced the air: "CROCODILE!"

A seven-foot African croc surged beneath him, jaws gaping. His fist descended like a hammer.

BOOM!

Water exploded as the punch obliterated its left eye through armored hide, gelatinous fluid spraying. The impact slammed the reptile underwater.

Huo Xuan smirked. "Dinner's upgraded."

Under her stunned gaze, he gripped the dazed croc's tail and—with a mighty heave—flung it ashore.

SPLASH!

The thrashing beast landed with a ground-shaking thud. Shangguan Meixue scrambled back, screaming.

Huo Xuan lunged ashore and punched out the crocodile's remaining eye. Gripping its thrashing tail, he swung the massive reptile overhead and slammed it onto the rocky bank with earth-shaking force.

Even through its armored hide, the impact against jagged gravel shattered its organs. A few more brutal whips later, the creature went limp.

Satisfied, Huo Xuan grinned. "Back home, croc meat sells for over 200 yuan per pound. This one's worth at least 50,000."

Shangguan Meixue stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

Nearby, hippos submerged until only their eyes and nostrils breached the surface—watching warily. Across the river, a drinking leopard abandoned its spot, spooked by Huo Xuan's savagery.

Grazing herds gave wide berth. Only buffalo and elephants stood their ground, casting indifferent glances.

Skinning the croc with his knife, Huo Xuan discovered mature eggs in its belly. He set them aside for roasting.

Within minutes, he'd built a fire and skewered palm-sized meat chunks.

Half an hour later, he handed Shangguan Meixue a portion. "Eat. Then I'll treat your fever."

Her head throbbed, but she snapped, "You're the one who's sick."

Huo Xuan shrugged, ignoring the jab.

She barely managed half the meat and two eggs before noticing Huo Xuan's intense gaze.