Chapter Sixteen: Preparations
Based on my experience, the platform beneath the waterfall offered almost no places to cling to. Even the uneven protrusions, where the river water cascaded down like a waterfall, appeared to provide no handholds or opportunities to climb. I did not act rashly. Although Wen said this was their territory, recalling Luo Wei’s fate made me feel anything but optimistic. After careful observation, I pulled out a section of my trekking pole.
I hadn’t mentioned this special climbing pole to Qu Xiang or Lan Fang because it had a secret: it could play a crucial role in survival situations. Hidden inside the pole’s hollow shaft was a short blade with a detachable head, which I twisted on tightly. This dagger, forged from Damascus steel, was among the finest blades in the world today. I hammered it against a rock, and it held firm, which gave me some reassurance.
Gripping the trekking pole, I stood before the pool, watching the thunderous waterfall and wondering if I could ascend through the vegetated woods flanking it. But disappointment quickly set in. On either side of the falls, there were either cliffs lower than where I stood or enormous rocky escarpments that were impossible to climb.
It seemed this vast stone platform ahead was formed from a single massive rock, as solid and imposing as a mountain. If I guessed right, climbing onto this platform and then moving into the surrounding rainforest would require trekking several kilometers. To the left was a lower cliff, impassable; to the right, some hope remained in the form of mountainous terrain, but the sparse trees made me wary of attempting it.
After all, the rainforest was fraught with unknown dangers. Any creatures living here would naturally stay close to a water source. Not to mention the hardships faced by other stranded people, and with Qu Xiang and Lan Fang as my companions, the stakes were even higher.
Wen’s warning was true: if I thought selfishly, Qu Xiang and Lan Fang were my greatest obstacles now. But since I had parted ways with Peng Qian and the others, I knew I couldn’t overcome this mental barrier without them.
Setting aside unnecessary thoughts, I gazed at the towering waterfall cliff ahead with a sense of helplessness. Yet I did not idle; I slowly searched along the pool’s edge, hoping to find a path onto the platform.
But there was none. A growing sense of frustration gnawed at me. However, I did notice something unexpected: a cluster of sharp bamboo tips barely submerged beneath the splashing water near the waterfall.
If one didn’t approach deliberately and look closely, these details would be easily missed. The pointed bamboo tips appeared deliberately sharpened. Though I harbored doubts, I had no idea what purpose these bamboo spikes served.
Suddenly, it struck me—Lan Fang’s leg injury must have been caused by these very bamboo spikes. Seeing how densely packed they were, I broke out in a cold sweat at how she had escaped worse harm.
I edged closer and discovered the bamboo stalks were only about two fingers thick, densely woven together with bamboo strips, with roughly a fist’s distance between rows. Having hunted in the countryside before, I knew this setup was designed to inflict maximum damage on prey or intruders.
Careful examination revealed the woven bamboo spikes spanned two to three dozen meters, arranged in two parallel rows spaced about half a foot apart. The ends of each row were secured tightly with slender bamboo cords fastened to rocks beneath the waterfall.
My first thought was that this was a deliberate trap. Then a chilling realization dawned on me. Even standing in the water, sweat beaded my skin. Staring at the sharp bamboo and then up at the waterfall above, I hesitated, uncertain whether to try and dismantle it.
Curiosity warred with caution, but I did not linger. I soon left the pool behind—the water was simply too cold—and returned towards Qu Xiang and Lan Fang.
They must have seen the expression on my face, for both appeared somewhat disheartened, unsure of what to do next.
“Xiang Xiang, didn’t you say you searched around here before? Did you find anything?” I asked, hoping Qu Xiang’s observations might differ from mine.
“No, nothing at all. The water’s so cold, I didn’t even see a single fish,” she replied, just as I had expected.
“It seems we need another plan. Otherwise, even without the beasts attacking us, we’ll become their prey,” I said, refusing to sigh, my eyes scanning the surroundings with renewed determination.
“What do you suggest?” Qu Xiang’s face darkened. Perhaps out of an instinctive trust in me as a man, she glanced at Lan Fang before quietly asking.
My gaze swept over the rainforest, lush and verdant all around. Then, spotting a patch of slender green leaves, a sudden jolt ran through me. “Xiang Xiang, wait here a moment. I’m going to find something!”
I don’t know if Qu Xiang and Lan Fang worried about me, but I plunged swiftly into the rainforest beside us. Luck was on my side—I found exactly what I sought without hesitation.
Not far off, I spotted a clump of phoenix-tail bamboo. It reminded me of the sharp bamboo spikes and the woven bamboo cords I had seen in the pool.
Had this been earlier, even if I realized the bamboo spikes’ usefulness, I might not have known how to utilize them. But now, excitement stirred within me as I reached for the steel bracelet taken from Luo Wei’s wrist.
The moment I saw the bracelet, I knew it concealed a secret: a one-foot-long steel saw hidden inside. Normally, attached to both ends of this saw were two small leaf-shaped knives for self-defense, secured by a locking clasp.
This was a survival tool commonly carried by outdoor enthusiasts. I didn’t know why Luo Wei had it or worry whether Wen and the others would notice, but their apparent indifference eased my mind.
I didn’t dwell on this now; the tool was invaluable. Luo Wei’s saw was the latest model and did not disappoint. The phoenix-tail bamboo stalks weren’t too thick either, and I quickly sawed through four or five of them.
Seeing my progress, a small thrill stirred in my heart.
At last, a step forward.