Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 882 Place

Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, which slid down her cheeks and left a trail of water on her neck. Although she had made full preparations before setting off, she only realized the magnificence and danger of nature when she was really in this vast rainforest. Jack held the hunting knife in his hand and scanned every shadow vigilantly. His mind kept flashing through the various dangers he encountered during previous expeditions. Those painful lessons made him dare not be careless at all. At this moment, his awe of this rainforest far exceeded any previous expedition. Every sound and every movement here could be a hidden danger. Along the way, they were attracted by the strange creatures in the rainforest. The colorful macaws were singing on the branches, and their gorgeous feathers were flashing in the sun like dancing flames; the huge leaves of the Victoria amazonica floated on the water, and the wide leaves were enough to bear the weight of a child; the unknown beetles crawled slowly on the rotten wood, and their hard shells had a metallic luster. However, these beautiful scenes did not let them relax their vigilance, because they knew that in this seemingly vibrant rainforest, dangers are often hidden under the most charming appearance. Suddenly, Carlos stopped abruptly and almost dropped the machete in his hand. His body was straight, the expression on his face froze instantly, and his eyes were full of vigilance and fear. Jack and Ava followed his gaze and saw an anaconda as thick as a bowl coiled on a thick tree trunk in front of them. The snake's body showed dark green and brown stripes, which blended perfectly with the surrounding environment. The anaconda spit out bright red tongues, and its cold yellow vertical pupils stared at them, as if it regarded them as prey that was about to enter. "Everyone be careful, don't alarm it." Carlos lowered his voice and said almost in a whisper. His body leaned back slightly, signaling the two people behind him to slowly retreat. Jack and Ava held their breath and moved their feet carefully, taking every step very slowly, for fear of making any sound. However, the anaconda seemed to have noticed their movements, and its originally still body began to slowly wriggle. The rustling sound of its scales rubbing against the tree trunk was particularly clear in the silent rainforest. It loosened the entangled tree trunk, and its huge body slid towards them like a flowing rope. Jack's palms were sweating, and he clenched the dagger, his knuckles turning white due to the force; Ava slowly raised the gun in her hand, and the sound of the safety bolt opening was particularly harsh at this moment. Just when the anaconda was about to launch an attack, Carlos suddenly bent down to pick up a dead branch and threw it far away with all his strength. The sound of the dead branch falling to the ground attracted the attention of the anaconda. It turned its head to the direction where the sound came from, paused for a moment, and slowly changed its route. The three did not dare to stop for a moment, turned around and ran in the opposite direction, until they were far away from the dangerous area, they stopped and gasped. "It was a close call." Jack supported his knees with his hands, sweat dripping down his chin. "If this anaconda attacks, we will probably die here." Carlos wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with lingering fear: "In the rainforest, never underestimate any seemingly peaceful corner. Anaconda is a top hunter. Once it is entangled, even a jaguar will find it difficult to escape." After this thrilling encounter, they are more cautious. Every step they take, they must carefully observe the surrounding environment to confirm that there is no potential danger. Ava frequently took out the map, compared it with the surrounding terrain and landmarks, and constantly adjusted the direction of advance. As they went deeper into the rainforest, the surrounding scene became more and more weird. The shapes of the trees became twisted and weird. Some trunks were covered with huge knots, as if they were covered with countless eyes; some branches were intertwined to form an intricate mesh structure, as if to trap the creatures that strayed into it. Unknowingly, the sun gradually sank to the west, and the afterglow sprinkled on the ground through the gaps in the leaves, forming patches of golden light. Carlos raised his hand to look at the position of the sun and said, "It's getting dark. We have to find a place to camp. Spending the night in the rain forest is more dangerous than during the day." The three began to look for a suitable camp nearby. They passed through a ferns and finally stopped at a relatively dry place with slightly higher terrain. Surrounded by tall trees, it formed a natural barrier. The ground was covered with thick fallen leaves, which were soft to step on. Jack and Carlos were responsible for setting up the tent. They skillfully unfolded the waterproof cloth and fixed the bracket with tree trunks and vines. Ava collected dry branches and dead leaves around to make a fire. She carefully avoided those plants with thorns and paid attention to her feet, fearing that she would step on poisonous snakes or poisonous insects hidden under the fallen leaves. As night fell, the rain forest fell into complete darkness. Only the bonfire was burning in the center of the camp, and the orange-red flames illuminated the tired faces of the three people. The world around them seemed to have awakened, and the calls of various animals came one after another, interweaving into a strange symphony. In the distance, monkeys screamed, and in the near distance, there were the buzzing of insects and the croaking of frogs. From time to time, a low roar could be heard from afar. The sound made people feel cold, but it was impossible to tell what creature made it. The three of them sat around the campfire, eating simple compressed food. The food tasted bland, but at this moment, driven by hunger, it seemed particularly delicious. Ava took out the map and looked at it carefully in the light of the campfire. "According to the map markings, we should reach a river tomorrow. In ancient civilizations, rivers are often the cradle of life and culture. If we continue along the river, we may find clues to the lost city." Ava said, with anticipation in her eyes. Jack nodded, his expression serious: "The river is indeed an important clue, but it also comes with danger. There are piranhas, electric eels, undercurrents and whirlpools in the Amazon rivers. Everyone should have a good rest tonight and be alert tomorrow." Carlos added a few pieces of firewood to the campfire, and the flames suddenly jumped higher: "Jack is right. The rainforest is not peaceful at night. In addition to wild animals, there are also various poisonous insects. We take turns to keep watch to ensure safety." As the night deepened, Jack was the first to keep watch. He sat by the campfire, holding a shotgun in his hand, and his eyes were vigilantly watching every movement in the dark. The jumping of the flames cast light and dark on his face, making his eyes more profound. Ava and Carlos got into the tent, and as soon as their tired bodies touched the sleeping bags, they quickly fell asleep. However, for Jack, this was just the beginning of a long and vigilant night. In this rainforest full of unknowns, no one knew what would happen in the next second.