Chapter 32: Extreme Heat, Giant Mushrooms

The alligator gar was at least over a meter long and weighed more than 200 jin (100+ kg).

The millipedes inside the cave had provided it with ample food, and the clear water pool became an ideal environment for its rapid growth.

For a creature of that size to move so freely, the pool likely connected to an underground river.

If they could manage to kill the alligator gar, collecting water would become safe. When the millipedes returned, they could mask the cave’s importance, preventing others from monopolizing it.

It was truly a blessing in a desperate situation.

The key was—how to kill the alligator gar.

Qin Shen’s three potatoes wouldn’t keep the millipedes distracted for long.

Time was tight before they returned.

Jiang Linhai said to Jiang Si, “Let’s use food to lure the gar onto the shore, then shoot it. That way we avoid polluting the water.”

Jiang Si nodded. “Sounds good, let’s try.”

She took a piece of dried wild boar meat from her bag and tied it to a wooden stick. “Something this big—once it jumps, it’ll be dangerous even on land. Everyone get behind me.”

Lu Zhifeng stepped forward. “Let me do it. Please watch Niuniu for me.”

Jiang Si had saved both him and Niuniu—he couldn’t just watch her take such a risk.

His resolve was firm. Jiang Si nodded and handed Niuniu to Shen Baoying. “Be careful.”

Everyone retreated several dozen meters. Jiang Si raised her gun in preparation while Lu Zhifeng took a deep breath and slowly lowered the meat toward the water.

Splash!

A huge wave erupted as two giant alligator gars leapt up with sharp teeth, fighting for the wild boar meat.

There wasn’t just one?!

Lu Zhifeng was shocked and nearly lost his footing.

As he dragged the meat back, the pool’s mouth proved too narrow—the two massive gars got stuck!

They struggled violently, unwilling to yield to one another, tearing and biting in a ferocious frenzy.

The clash of power and savagery felt like a battle between prehistoric monsters.

Jiang Linhai furrowed his brow. “Sisi, do we shoot?”

Jiang Si nodded. “Yes. Their backs are extremely tough—aim for the eyes, pierce the skull, and it’ll be a one-shot kill.”

Lu Zhifeng raised his gun. “I’ll take the shot.”

He had been a forest ranger for years and was a skilled marksman.

Jiang Si said, “I’ll shoot too. I’ll take the one on the left, you take the one on the right.”

Lu Zhifeng was surprised at her confidence, but then glanced at Jiang Chengwu’s serious face, and remembered Jiang Si’s background as an extreme sports coach—her composure made sense.

Both aimed at the gar’s eyes.

One second… two…

The moment the gars bit into each other—

Bang! Bang!

Gunfire echoed through the cave, ears ringing from the intensity.

Niuniu cautiously opened her eyes. The two alligator gars had stopped moving.

Jiang Linhai and Jiang Chengwu stepped forward to drag the bodies out.

Jiang Si reached out to stop them. “Wait—gars have an unusually strong life force.”

She poked one with a stick—and sure enough, it twitched violently.

Still alive.

She raised her gun and fired two more finishing shots.

Just then, Qin Shen returned—perfect timing for heavy lifting. With everyone’s help, they dragged the gars out of the pool.

Jiang Si raised a torch and carefully peered into the water.

“Are there more?” Jiang Linhai asked.

“Hard to say,” she replied.
“There don’t seem to be any more for now, but it’s possible they’ve already laid eggs.”

“We’ll need to store as much water as we can for the coming days,” Lu Zhifeng said.

Grandma looked at the now slightly murky water and asked, concerned, “Is this water still safe to drink?”

Jiang Si had a water testing device in her space: “Should be. We’ll boil it a few times back home, and test it on a wild rabbit before drinking.”

Everyone filled every container they had with water—then turned to look at the two gar carcasses.

“If we leave them here to rot, it’ll contaminate the pool. Let’s move them out,” Jiang Si suggested.
“Burying them would take too long, but their bodies are toxic—if they poison a few predators, it’ll be safer when we come back for more water.”

“Agreed.”

They carried the gar corpses out of the cave. There were only three hours left until sunrise.

They had to hurry back.

Lu Zhifeng, familiar with Longquan’s forests, quickly found the right direction and said, “The path to the right is faster.”

Everyone looked at Qin Shen, silently asking if it was safe.

After all that had happened, Qin Shen had earned a measure of trust.

He nodded. “Every path has risks. Let’s go.”

The direction was correct, but the landscape had changed drastically from the intense solar radiation.

If not for familiar markings on the rocks, Lu Zhifeng might’ve started doubting his own sense of direction.

After half an hour, they came across a clearing filled with giant mushrooms of varying sizes.

Some were 2–3 meters tall, even the shortest were over a meter.

They were vibrant and colorful—red, yellow, purple. Their caps bore swirling patterns of various hues. In the silent night, with mist swirling around, it looked like a fantasy land from Alice in Wonderland.

Lu Zhifeng asked Qin Shen, “Have you ever seen mushrooms like these?”

Qin Shen shook his head. “They look poisonous. Better go around.”

They were about to detour when, suddenly, the dark night flipped like a switch—daylight broke without warning.

The temperature soared rapidly.

Jiang Linhai shouted, “No good! Find shelter—fast!”

There wasn’t even a tree hollow nearby. In the panic, Jiang Si was just about to pull a slab of stone from her space to shield them from the solar flare.

Then, sunlight poured down like lasers—beams of radiant heat seared the forest. Trees shriveled. Skin began to blister and burn.

But the giant mushrooms…

…remained unchanged.

Jiang Si’s eyes lit up. She reacted instantly. “Quick—under the mushroom caps!”

The temperature was rising too fast. Even without her instruction, everyone instinctively ran for cover under the mushrooms.

Jiang Si and Qin Shen rushed under the same mushroom. As the light beams intensified, they both gripped the stalk, standing extremely close.

So close, in fact, that Jiang Si could count every eyelash on Qin Shen’s thick lashes.

It was awkward—but there was no room to let go.

Everyone stood tense beneath the mushrooms, holding their breath. When nothing happened, they finally relaxed.

Jiang Linhai cheered, “These mushrooms aren’t corroded by the solar flares! If we cut them down and make umbrellas out of them, we might be able to move around during the day!”

Lu Zhifeng’s eyes lit up. “Great idea. It’s definitely safer than nighttime.”

They all turned to Jiang Si and Qin Shen—and noticed their ambiguous posture.

Jiang Linhai’s eyes widened. He quickly chopped down the mushroom above their heads, like a jealous parent pulling two kids apart.

Jiang Si twitched her mouth helplessly. Seriously, the guy hasn’t even shown a hint of interest in me…

Lu Zhifeng wanted to follow suit and cut down another mushroom, but Jiang Linhai shouted to stop them.

“Don’t cut! They’re poisonous!”

Jiang Si was startled and looked over—

Jiang Linhai’s hands had swollen like giant red carrots, smooth and shiny.

But she and Qin Shen had touched the mushroom too—and felt nothing.