Chapter 3 Let’s Go There.

Chapter 3 Let's Go There

Sheng Xingyao wiped the water from his upper lip, looking up in disbelief. "This water really is salty!"

[?????]

[Did that fake Yu secretly put salt in it?]

[Could be! How can river water be salty?!]

[...Alright, enough already, folks. Yu Xin was on camera the whole time; how could he have had a chance to add salt to the water?]

[So what exactly is going on?! I'm dying of curiosity!]

The guests on site were equally shocked. Qin Shizhen, disbelieving, even tasted it himself.

"Ptooey!" He spat it out the moment it touched his lips—it was salty and bitter, indistinguishable from seawater.

"What in the world is happening?"

Even Ruan Qing, usually a woman of few words, widened her eyes and urged, "Exactly, Yu Xin, hurry up and tell us!"

Shen Tong, having just been proven wrong, felt a bit embarrassed but also looked at Yu Xin, awaiting an explanation. Sheng Xingyao, who had been so confident earlier but was now utterly deflated, was even more eager.

Four pairs of eyes gazed expectantly at Yu Xin. Yu Xin slowly began to explain, "It's actually quite simple. As I mentioned earlier, this river flows into the sea. Although it's still some distance from the ocean, due to the high tide, seawater has backed up into the river channel. That's why the river water tastes salty."

"If we want fresh water, we'll have to wait until the tide recedes and the river channel refills with fresh water."

Yu Xin then shifted gears. "But the tide won't recede until around 6 p.m. Right now, the temperature is 32°C. Our fresh water supply is limited. I'm afraid we might suffer heatstroke before the tide goes out." Indeed, while the three male guests were holding up somewhat better, the two more delicate female guests were already showing signs of dizziness under the intense sun.

His voice was even, devoid of any smugness from winning the bet with Sheng Xingyao. He simply stated the facts plainly.

[So that's how it is—well, you learn something new every day.]

[...Didn't expect that fake Yu to actually know his stuff.]

[Hey, 'Butt Guy' from earlier, are you still there? When are you starting the livestream? Don't forget to invite us for an eye-opener!]

[Just a fluke, right? A blind cat stumbling on a dead mouse. He just did a bit of homework beforehand. If the other guests had prepared, they'd know too.]

[Alright, you guys who can't stand Yu Xin, enough already. Regardless of what he was like before, at least he's been decent on this show so far.]

No matter what the comments said, Sheng Xingyao and Shen Tong were not feeling good at the moment. Especially Sheng Xingyao, who wished he could sink into the ground.

Being made to look like such a fool in front of all the viewers, and by Yu Xin—whom they had always looked down on—was worse than anything.

Shen Tong's face was bright red, whether from the sun or embarrassment. The privileged young lady, who had never been left speechless before, stamped her foot in frustration. "Yu Xin, I was wrong this time. But if you knew all along, why didn't you just tell us? Why did you have to make a bet with Sheng Xingyao? Did you have to see us make such fools of ourselves to be satisfied?"

[Exactly! That fake Yu clearly has bad intentions.]

[So calculating—makes me sick.]

"Tell you directly? I didn't think you'd believe me." Yu Xin's tone was pointed. He was well aware of Shen Tong and Sheng Xingyao's attitudes toward him. If Sheng Xingyao's attitude stemmed from the original host's actions, Shen Tong's was purely personal prejudice.

He wasn't the type to explain himself. If he had to justify everything he did over the next few days, he'd be driven mad.

It was better this way—to give these two a minor setback and leave a deep impression, so they wouldn't question him at every turn.

"You!" Shen Tong came from a privileged background and was always coddled wherever she went. This was the first time she had encountered someone as disrespectful as Yu Xin.

Especially since Yu Xin's tone remained calm and flat, his expression neutral, which made it even more infuriating.

He was younger than her—how could he be so maddening?

"Alright, alright, stop arguing. Shen Tong, calm down too." Qin Shizhen smoothly stepped in as the peacemaker. He turned to Yu Xin and asked seriously for the first time, "Yu Xin, if this place isn't suitable, where do you suggest we set up camp? We need somewhere to sleep."

"If you want fresh water, follow the river upstream," Yu Xin pointed toward the dense forest deep in the mountains. "Let's go there."

They were at the foot of a mountain. The river flowed down along the terrain. To follow it upstream, they would have to climb the mountain.

Ruan Qing looked at her slender wrists and then at the large pile of supplies on the ground. Her voice trembled, "How far up do we need to climb?"

"Just until we find a suitable spot to camp," Yu Xin said. "But we'd better move quickly. The rainy season showers can start anytime. If we get caught in heavy rain halfway, it'll be trouble."

"Let's do as Yu Xin says," Qin Shizhen had the final say. "Everyone, pack up the supplies. We're setting off."

Sheng Xingyao hadn't spoken since earlier.

He knew he was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Yu Xin. Tall, he stood awkwardly to the side, his handsome face flushed red.

Hearing that they had to climb the mountain, he didn't dare voice any objections. Sullenly, he crouched down to pack the supplies, occasionally stealing glances at Yu Xin.

But Yu Xin never looked back at him, giving him only the perfectly round back of his head.

Sheng Xingyao: ...

He now realized that Yu Xin seemed completely different from before.

The old Yu Xin would travel across planets just to see him, his eyes shining with an intensity that was almost frightening.

But now, Yu Xin's gaze toward him was indifferent, no different from how he looked at anyone else.

He should have been glad to be free of such an obsessive admirer, but Sheng Xingyao felt inexplicably irritated. He attributed it to Yu Xin making him lose so much face, without any regard for the past affection he once held.

How heartless!

Sheng Xingyao fumed inwardly, feeling oddly like he was the one who had been dumped.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yu Xin shouldering the heavy sleeping bags and weapons effortlessly, as if trying to outdo him. Sheng Xingyao grabbed the other set of sleeping bags and tools.

As soon as he lifted them, he was stunned—how were they so heavy?!

And Yu Xin made it look effortless.

The two of them carried the bulk of the weight, making it easier for the others. The lighter items were distributed between the two women, while Qin Shizhen took on the rest. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Let's move out!"

[www The real challenge begins!]

[Tongtong, stay strong! Take care of yourself!]

[Yao Bao is working so hard, carrying all the heavy stuff. His expression changed as soon as he lifted it.]

[Yu Xin is carrying a lot too; why isn't anyone mentioning that?]

[What, are there people whitewashing that fake Yu now? Have you forgotten what he did before? I suggest you review his past actions.]

The mountain forest was completely undeveloped, with no proper paths. The vegetation was dense, bushes and vines sprawling everywhere, making the trek extremely difficult.

Yu Xin grabbed a machete and naturally organized everyone: "I'll lead the way at the front, Shen Tong and Ruan Qing in the middle, Qin Shizhen and Sheng Xingyao at the back."

He earnestly advised, "Watch your step, step exactly where I step, and if you get bitten by anything, speak up right away."

Although this area had been pre-cleared by the crew, with no deadly creatures like snakes or wild beasts, getting bitten by insects or other bugs could still be troublesome if not treated promptly.

The group got in formation as directed, placing the women in the middle, and began the grueling hike.

The climb proved far more difficult than imagined.

The mountain path was rugged, with roots sticking out that could trip them, or branches smacking them in the face. The humid, stifling air of the rainy season, combined with the dense tree cover that blocked all breeze, left everyone soaked with sweat. With insufficient drinking water, their mouths grew dry after just a short while.

Sheng Xingyao, at the rear, paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead—the forest seemed endless.

The weight on his back bent him over, and he was starting to regret carrying so much. But when he glanced at Yu Xin ahead, whose slender build seemed tireless as he tirelessly swung the machete to clear their path, Sheng Xingyao knew Yu Xin had it much tougher.

Qin Shizhen, beside him, noticed his struggle and felt bad. "Sheng Xingyao, you're carrying too much. Let me take some of it."

"No need, Qin Shizhen. I can manage," Sheng Xingyao insisted through clenched teeth, unwilling to admit he was inferior to Yu Xin.

After what seemed like forever, with only a few brief breaks along the way, Yu Xin finally stopped. "This spot will do. Let's set up here."

Before them lay a relatively open riverbank, shaded by trees and close to the water—an ideal location for a campsite.

The guests all sighed with relief. Ruan Qing dropped her load to the ground and collapsed beside it. "We’re finally here… I couldn’t take another step…"

She now looked at Yu Xin with both fear and respect. Throughout the journey, he had been like a demon, coldly urging them onward after every short rest. Ruan Qing had never been so exhausted in her life.

She felt certain she’d have nightmares about Yu Xin’s cold command: "Get up, keep climbing."

Shen Tong, too weary to care about her image, looked far from the radiant young lady she’d been at the start. Her carefully styled curls now clung to her forehead in sweaty strands, dotted with a few stray leaves.

Nearby, Sheng Xingyao lay speechless on the ground, panting heavily like a large dog after a marathon.

Even Qin Shizhen, the fittest among them with years of regular workouts, was nearing his physical limit.

[So heartbreaking—our delicate Qingqing has never suffered like this before, 555.]

[Is Yu Xin a devil? Their legs were shaking, and he still made them climb. I felt exhausted just watching.]

[Still, Yu Xin meant well. What if they got caught in heavy rain on the way?]

[Hmph, look at that blazing sun—where’s the rain? That fake Yu is just up to no good.]

Just as everyone thought they could finally rest, certain that nothing could get them off the ground, Yu Xin stood studying the sky, his expression unusually grave.

"No, we can’t stop yet," he said, his tone serious. "We must put up the rain cover."

"A storm's coming—any minute now."

Author's Note:

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Received vitamin drink from a little angel today!

So touched, 555.