It was already quite late when Su Ge and Rong Shi came back, and they hadn’t eaten yet. They didn’t expect something like this to happen. 

The number of “monkeys” was numerous, and their victory was not swift and decisive; it took quite a bit of time. By the time the battle finally ended, it was already deep into the night. 

They sat back down by the stove, and the campfire had long since extinguished. 

Everyone had to search for firewood again and strike the flint to start a fire. After much effort, they managed to relight the campfire, bringing light back to the camp once more. 

However, having light around didn’t necessarily make things clearer; sometimes it was better to see nothing than to see everything. 

The scene was a mess. 

The three groups of people were each guarding one side. Despite their best efforts to stop them, some still managed to slip through and rush in. The “monkey” caught by Su Ge and Rong Shi was indeed missing, its rope left discarded on the ground. 

Besides rescuing the captives, this group of “monkeys” clearly caused a lot of other trouble. 

For instance, the stove they had built had a corner broken off, the few wooden boards used as a dining table were overturned, and even their tents were torn apart. Not to mention, the water tanks, bowls, and other clay items were all smashed to pieces. 

The big iron pot that was exchanged for something was still there, but it had been overturned and turned upside down on the ground. The meat soup and rice that were originally cooked in it were scattered all over the ground, mixed with the weeds and soil, emitting a strange smell. 

Looking at the mess, Su Ge managed to maintain some composure. Though upset, she took a few deep breaths to calm down. The aliens, however, were less forgiving. When they saw this scene, they were furious and rolled up their sleeves, wishing they could chase into the forest and settle the score with these monkeys. 

Yilan was furious too. She squatted down and turned the big iron pot over. She found the kitchen knife underneath it, but the wooden handle had been removed. The food in the iron pot was coated with the kitchen knife, leaving it very dirty and messy. 

In her anger, Yilan cursed loudly. Before she could finish venting, she suddenly slapped her forehead and dashed towards the overturned tent. 

The other aliens didn’t know what she was up to, but she yelled, “Hurry, come help! Yesterday Su Ge had me hide the food underground. I dug two holes; it mustn’t have been turned over!” 

Her loud shout made everyone move quickly. Like rabbits, they hurried to the overturned tent, eager to help clean up the messy chaos. After some effort, they finally revealed what was hidden inside. As anticipated, the contents of the tent were scattered and disorganized too. 

Yilan searched through the chaos and eventually found the dirt pit under a pile of debris. Pushing aside the clutter, she discovered the food was still safely buried. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But before they could fully relax, they heard Lana shout, “Oh no!” 

Their hearts sank again at her cry. They turned to see Lana holding her backpack, her face on the verge of tears. 

Thinking she had lost something personal, Su Ge comforted her, “Lana, did you lose something? It’s okay.” 

Lana blinked back tears, her head shaking like a drum, “It’s not my things that are lost. It’s the remaining dried meat you gave me yesterday. They’ve all been taken!” 

Upon hearing these words, Su Ge felt her heart was bleeding. 

To make this cured bacon was already painstaking enough, but the real costly items were the spices like salt and Sichuan peppercorns. She didn’t have many spices on hand, and now after spending so much effort and ingredients, the cured bacon had actually been stolen. How could she not feel heartbroken? 

If Su Ge was merely heartbroken, then hearing the news was almost a disaster for the other aliens. They all widened their eyes and rushed to Lana, eagerly confirming the truth of the matter. 

Lana cried anxiously. She swung her backpack and stamped her feet while crying, “How could I joke about something like this? It’s really gone, it’s really been taken away!” 

This time, everyone’s anger blazed even hotter. Zigmadar was the first to jump up, brandishing his wooden stick fiercely, saying, “Why didn’t I hit them harder earlier! These disgusting creatures!” 

Others with hot tempers like Ron, Saro, and Meng couldn’t wait any longer. They echoed Zigmadar, saying, “Let’s go into the forest now and drag these guys out!” 

“Yeah! I can’t stand this any longer!” 

“Right! Even if we can’t beat them, we’ll burn down the whole forest!” 

… 

Already prone to impulsiveness, especially in their current rage, the group was about to charge into the forest. 

At this moment, Rong Shi shouted, “What are you all doing!” 

Several people shrunk back at Rong Shi’s shout, hesitating in their tracks. However, after a moment, Ron turned to Rong Shi with anger, saying, “If you won’t go, we’ll go ourselves! If we can’t even protect our own provisions, what kind of men are we!” 

Encouraged by Ron’s defiance, the others boldly joined Ron in shouting, “That’s right! Su Ge worked so hard on that cured meat, only for these guys to steal it and ransack our camp. That’s our hard work! You might be able to swallow your pride, but we can’t!” 

Rong Shi was called out by several people, their continued chatter making his temples throb with pain. He closed his eyes slightly, gently massaging his temples with his fingers, listening as the group shouted angrily for a while. Despite not saying a word, everyone could feel the chilling atmosphere radiating from him. 

The shouting match with Rong Shi was actually a result of an impulsive exchange of words. If Rong Shi had shouted back at them, those few might have turned and left. However, Rong Shi’s silence gradually built up immense pressure, leaving them unwilling to say more. 

After the last few harsh words were spoken, the group didn’t leave but stood a bit away from Rong Shi, continuously eyeing him while their angry expressions hid a hint of unease. 

After a while, even their muttered voices ceased. An oppressive silence hung over the entire campsite. Finally, Rong Shi opened his eyes, gazing coldly at the few standing in the distance, and chuckled, “Keep shouting, keep yelling. What will your anger achieve against those monkeys? Will they come back to give us back our smoked meat? Will they return to tidy our campsite? Will they apologize for upsetting you?” 

“You want revenge, justice for yourselves, or even set the forest on fire?!! Are you all missing a few screws in your heads?” 

“Do you even know how many of those monkeys there are? Do you know what kind of creatures they are? Do you know their weaknesses? Do you know where they live? They come out of the forest. Are you sure they live within the forest?” 

“You know nothing, yet you rush into the forest. What are you thinking? Burn the forest? Do you even realize how vast this desolate planet is? Do you know how large this forest is? For this desolate planet, we are invaders. Do you understand what it means to be an invader? Where did your years of interstellar studies go?” 

At this point, he gritted his teeth and glared at the few with a bitter sense of disappointment. He raised his hand, pointing at Zigmadar, and said, “Tell me, what is Article Four of the Interstellar Regulations?” 

Zigmadar twitched the corner of his mouth and lowered his eyes, afraid to meet Rong Shi’s gaze, as if Rong Shi was not a person but a terrifying demon. 

Zigmadar and Su Ge stood a bit apart, so she was not at the center of attention. Now, speaking in hushed tones, they weren’t noticed by others. 

Earth had just entered the Interstellar Alliance, so they had never heard of such interstellar regulations. Pushing the person standing beside her, Glaki, she lowered her voice and asked, “What are the Interstellar Regulations, and what is the fourth article?” 

Glaki explained to Su Ge in a voice only the two of them could hear that these interstellar regulations were rules established by the Interstellar Alliance after several major wars to regulate the various planets in the galaxy. It was also something every child in the Interstellar Alliance had to learn upon entering school. 

Then, Glaki looked at Su Ge with a strange expression and said, “You don’t know? Does Earth not teach this?” 

Su Ge shook her head. “We only joined the Interstellar Alliance this year. Before that, I hadn’t even heard of these interstellar regulations. Do all of you know them by heart?” 

Glaki understood when Su Ge said that. “Our planet joined the Interstellar Alliance before I was born. By the time I started schooling, we were already learning this. I heard that every child in the Interstellar Alliance knows it.” 

Su Ge couldn’t help but twitch her lips. She felt that the burden on Earth children, which was already heavy, would probably include such a course in the near future. She felt sorry for them and couldn’t help but feel a little smug—after all, she had graduated! 

“…Respect the universe, respect every planet, respect every race, do not invade any planet, do not alter any racial civilization, do not engage in actions that destroy any planet…” 

Under Rong Shi’s furious gaze, Zigmadar finally recited it hesitantly. He spoke ambiguously and quickly, and if it weren’t for Su Ge’s sharp ears, she probably wouldn’t have heard clearly. At this moment, Glaki beside her said, “Before the establishment of the Interstellar Alliance, there were many wars in the universe, and many planets were destroyed, and many races disappeared. So, after the establishment of the Interstellar Alliance, this regulation was put in place.” 

“What happens if the Interstellar Regulations are not followed?” 

“They will be punished, and the penalties vary for each planet. But since this is a live broadcast, it will be aired to all planets. If they are really pursued by the Interstellar Court…” Glaki didn’t finish his sentence, but even without completing it, Su Ge understood his meaning. 

Although Su Ge had never encountered the Interstellar Court, she had heard of it as the highest legal institution of the Interstellar Alliance. If someone were to be pursued by it… Su Ge suddenly understood why Zigmadar would back down. 

Clearly, even someone like Su Ge who hadn’t studied the Interstellar Regulations could grasp the implications. Those who had studied them were even more aware. The few who had been furious just moments ago now seemed deflated, as if all the fight had gone out of them, and they dared not say another word. 

If they really go and burn down the forest, speaking broadly, it’s planetary destruction. Even though it’s a desolate planet, this is a program broadcasted across the entire Interstellar Alliance. There are plenty of people who will take issue with it if anything goes wrong, and it’s not something a mere organizer can handle. 

Though Rong Shi was angry, he didn’t scold anyone for long. After all, right now, solving the most pressing issues is more important than reprimanding. 

With everyone pitching in, the flames rose high. Under the hands of over a dozen people, it didn’t take long to restore everything. If not for the lost smoked meat and broken pottery pieces reminding everyone of the havoc caused by the monkeys, it would hardly be recognizable. 

The iron pots were set back up. 

Although the smoked meat was lost, Su Ge, an Earthling with the habit of hiding bits of food, didn’t waste any of it.  A few days ago, fearing the monkeys would return to steal, she gave everyone everything she had on hand to hide away, except for Lana’s smoked meat that was stolen, everything else is still there. 

After quickly making a pot of stew with wild vegetables and rabbit meat, those who hadn’t eaten dinner finally filled their stomachs. 

“Okay, now that we’re full, let’s talk about the situation of each group just now.” 

After eating, whether they were Earthlings or aliens, they were generally in a better mood, and it seemed that Rong Shi had also been freed from the hasty negative emotions just now. He sat at the edge of the table, lightly tapping the table in front of him with his fingers, and began to gather everyone’s situation. 

Each of the three groups spoke. 

Rong Shi recorded and summarized everything each person saw. Just then, Su Ge, who had been silent, suddenly asked, “Did any of you kill the monkeys?” 

After this question was asked, everyone’s gaze turned to Su Ge. They were slightly stunned, and then each person’s face showed a surprised expression. Only at this moment did everyone begin to realize that something was amiss. 

Su Ge continued, “Zigmadar is in my group. You know how strong he is. If he swung that stick, you also know what the result would be if it hit someone. We cooperated together, and there should have been casualties among the monkeys, even if not thirty, at least twenty. Many were even thrown high into the sky and smashed down. Logically, under these circumstances, they should have casualties.” 

At this point, she glanced around at everyone present. Although each person was sitting here intact, everyone was injured—some had scratches, others had bruises all over, and some wounds were still bleeding. It was evident that in the recent battle, despite driving away the monkeys in the end, they hadn’t gained any advantage. In fact, they had suffered significant losses. 

Su Ge’s heart sank even further. She took a deep breath before saying, “The group we fought with not only faced Zigmadar’s fierce attacks, but we also lost a lot of firewood, some of which was set on fire…” 

Rong Shi’s brow furrowed deeply. He pursed his lips slightly, recalling in detail the situation his own group faced. After a while, he spoke with difficulty, “Did you not find any bodies?” 

Su Ge nodded slightly heavily, “I don’t know if they took their comrades bodies away or for some other reason, but when we withdrew just now, I didn’t see a single body. Not one.” 

Nalita couldn’t help but shudder when she heard this. She hugged her arms and touched her wounded arm. The pain from several scratches made her grimace, “Su Ge, could you have been mistaken?” 

Su Ge lowered her eyelashes and sighed, “I hope I’m mistaken.” 

Yes, she had never hoped more to be mistaken. If she wasn’t mistaken, if these monkeys had indeed been so ruthless as to leave no bodies after such a fight and fire, then this species was truly terrifying. 

Can’t kill them in battle, can’t burn them either…  

Su Ge shook her head vigorously, trying to banish these thoughts that contradicted all scientific understanding from her mind. 

Rong Shi’s mind was in turmoil at this moment. He clearly knew more about the strange and peculiar things that happened across the vast universe than Su Ge did. Races like this, with no apparent weaknesses, did exist, but they were rare. 

He remembered from his military studies class that when facing a creature with no clear weaknesses, the best strategy was to avoid direct confrontation. If avoiding a fight wasn’t possible, using flanking tactics was the next best option. If forced to engage in combat, the priority was to identify the opponent’s weak points. Otherwise, preserving one’s own strength was most important. 

In the current development of the Interstellar Alliance, the safety of life is the highest priority. A few hundred years ago, recklessness might have been celebrated as heroic, but today, it is considered irresponsible. 

Rong Shi had been educated in accordance with the principles of the modern Interstellar Alliance. In his mind, the lives of his teammates were above all else. Now, the opponents were clearly a group of secondary intelligent beings, their nature mysterious and seemingly invincible, with no evident weaknesses. Engaging them in battle would undoubtedly result in defeat. 

They had been on Planet 756 for less than two months, with another ten months until the end of their live broadcast. They had already passed up one opportunity from the organizers to change planets, so bringing it up again naturally was out of the question. Now, their focus was on how to peacefully coexist with the others over the next ten months. 

This was truly a problem. 

Based on the conflicts that had already occurred, “peace” seemed like an overly elusive term. 

He tapped the pen steadily on the desk for a while before he finally spoke, “Our primary task now is to protect our food and vegetable plots.” 

This was crucial, especially now that they had abandoned nutrient fluids. There was nothing more important than preserving their food. 

“But these monkeys are everywhere, wreaking havoc and causing damage. Must we guard the vegetable plots day and night? If we switch to three shifts, progress on our houses will slow down,” Flynn took the pen from Rong Shi and began calculating in his notebook. 

Soon, all the aliens were engaged in discussions, calculating how much time they would need to protect the vegetable plots and finish building the houses safely. 

Su Ge listened in, finding it somewhat incredible. She looked at the passionately debating aliens and asked sincerely, “Why not build a fence?” 

Su Ge’s sudden question immediately captured everyone’s attention. They stared at her blankly, appearing completely puzzled, as if they didn’t grasp what she was talking about. 

Being scrutinized like that made Su Ge a bit nervous too. She swallowed nervously and carefully recalled what she had just said. 

It was a reasonable suggestion, wasn’t it? She was sure she hadn’t said anything unrealistic. So why were these aliens looking at her like that? 

After a few seconds of mutual staring, Sela cautiously asked, “What is a fence?” 

City walls or fences, defensive structures like these are only seen in historical relics on Earth, let alone in the interstellar alliance. Their primary defense installations involve energy shields erected outside the planet using high-strength energy stones. These shields are transparent but can withstand significant impacts. 

Su Ge blinked several times, then after a few seconds, she gave up on expecting these aliens to understand her far-fetched idea. Instead, she gestured and explained to them what a fence was. 

The other aliens still seemed bewildered by this description, but Flynn, who was knowledgeable in architecture, immediately grasped Suege’s idea. He took over the explanation, “It’s like a protective shield, but it doesn’t require energy stones to support it.” 

“Are we supposed to cover everything?” one alien asked. 

“No… it’s about building a circle outside the camp to keep the monkeys from causing trouble,” Flynn clarified. 

“With what material?” another alien asked. 

“The stronger, the better,” Flynn replied. 

“And how do we build it? If the monkeys come, will it automatically fend them off?” another asked. 

“I don’t think so,” Flynn admitted. 

“Then why do we need to build this thing?” 

“It’s to protect our safe zone and vegetable plots, to prevent the monkeys from coming in and causing trouble or stealing things.” Flynn suddenly understood Su Ge’s feeling of frustration when dealing with all these aliens who had no idea. 

Explaining something completely unfamiliar to a bunch of outsiders was indeed very difficult. 

After a lengthy discussion that went nowhere, Flynn finally frowned and declared, “We’re building a wall to protect ourselves! That’s the only reason!” 

“Oh…” The aliens collectively blinked, feeling like they heard but didn’t quite understand. So, what exactly did this wall look like? 

Finally, Rong Shi cleared his throat, “It’s okay if you don’t understand. Just follow the instructions obediently when we start working.” 

The aliens nodded in agreement. 

But the real question remained: What did this wall look like?