Chapter 9: The First Night

Page 1/3

Although this star-level analysis was merely his own inference, with so many two-star panels as a foundation, Zhou Xu felt that his judgment was likely quite accurate. Under this premise, it was perfectly normal that all other tribe members nearby also had two-star panel attributes, as they were just ordinary people. Of course, Da Shan and some other tribe members had gone off to gather branches, which Zhou Xu hadn’t observed yet. However, this task would have to be postponed for a while.

He sensed that his current state was deteriorating noticeably; even a slight headache was beginning to emerge. Given this, he wasn’t sure if a short rest or a sleep would fully restore him. If he couldn’t recover quickly, continuing to use his “Insightful Eye” to check Da Shan and the others’ panels could risk him fainting. In this primitive world, where even the most basic issues of food and warmth were unresolved, fainting would be a nightmare he must avoid at all costs.

By the time Da Shan and the others returned with branches, the sky had clearly darkened, and the temperature had dropped along with it. The peculiar conditions of the nearby dark forest and the surrounding barren land made it impossible for Zhou Xu to determine whether it was spring or autumn just by observing the plants. These two seasons were followed by summer and winter respectively, with vastly different preparations needed for heat or cold—a fact that troubled Zhou Xu greatly.

With no other choice, he tentatively broached the subject of the climate with Da Shan and the others. Da Shan, unbothered by the question, replied, “From now on, the climate should slowly get warmer.” Although they lacked a clear concept of seasons, having lived in this world for several years, they understood the general changes between hot and cold climates.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xu immediately understood: they were currently in spring. This realization brought him a slight sense of relief. If Da Shan and the others had summoned him in either summer or winter, the situation would undoubtedly be far worse. Considering how dire his circumstances already were, if it had been the scorching heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter, he would likely have been done for.

Page 2/3

As his thoughts raced, a gust of night wind swept by, causing Zhou Xu—clad only in a piece of animal hide—to shiver. Spring nights were still quite chilly, and he risked catching a cold if he wasn’t careful. Thinking of this, he hurried closer to the fire, feeling a comforting warmth spread through his body.

Before Da Shan and the others returned, Zhou Xu had already taken the time to craft several torches bound with strips of tree bark. They would need more wood and couldn’t simply stop collecting once night fell. Fortunately, with the torches providing light, Da Shan and the others didn’t mind continuing to gather branches early in the night.

After giving his brief instructions and watching them leave, Zhou Xu sat back by the fire, fatigue visibly washing over his face. The prolonged use of the Insightful Eye to examine nearly twenty tribe members’ attribute panels had drained him significantly, which was the main reason. Additionally, the strange and grueling experiences he had endured today, keeping his nerves constantly taut, contributed to his exhaustion.

In this state, a rumbling sound rose from his stomach. The few insects he had eaten barely filled his hunger, let alone satisfied it. As a result, he was tired, hungry, and cold all at once. In contrast, the other tribe members seemed to fare better—possibly because they were accustomed to hunger. With no alternatives, Zhou Xu drank some water to briefly quell his hunger. As long as there was water, going a day or two without food wouldn’t be fatal, especially since he had managed to eat a little.

This gave him some reassurance, though discomfort remained. He moved quickly and, without worrying too much about craftsmanship, managed to weave three small baskets before deep night, just enough to catch a mouse. The other tribe members, though slower at weaving, were greater in number—each making at least one basket per night. Combined with Zhou Xu’s three, they had about eight baskets total.

“Eight baskets should be enough,” Zhou Xu thought, exhaling a long breath of relief.

Page 3/3

“All right, that’s enough for today. We have a lot to do tomorrow, so everyone rest up. To save wood, we’ll put out the main fire, but keep the one for boiling water burning,” Zhou Xu said as he stood and stretched.

With the prestige he had gained earlier, the tribe members now followed his instructions obediently, making his arrangements run more smoothly.

“We need someone to boil water, tend the fire, and keep watch at night. Although one person could manage, it’s not the safest option. So, I’ve decided to organize two groups of three people each—one for the first half of the night, and the other for the second half.”

Zhou Xu paused briefly before continuing, “As for how to divide the shifts… just watch the moon. That glowing thing in the sky is called the moon. When it moves to roughly this position, you can switch shifts.”

Afterward, he gave some brief reminders about boiling water. Filling those water bowls wouldn’t take the whole night. To be efficient, aside from reserving half a bowl for those on watch to quench thirst and hunger, the rest would be distributed to the tribe members before sleep. Unable to find much food, they couldn’t afford to waste even a drop of water. By the time they woke the next day, the bowls would be refilled anyway—no waste at all.

Da Shan and the others had naturally prepared a small animal-hide tent for Zhou Xu to rest in. The tent was cramped—one had to stoop to enter, and lying down was not spacious. Compared to staying outside, its greatest advantage was shielding almost all the wind.

Well, almost all—the tent leaked in many places. But considering the harsh environment, Zhou Xu couldn’t expect more.

Tightening the animal hide around him, he curled up and lay down. It had been an exhausting day, and even inside this drafty tent, Zhou Xu fell asleep instantly. Soon, his steady breathing filled the quiet night…