Starting from Robinson Crusoe

Thinking about this, Chen Zhou couldn’t help but feel some regret.

If he hadn’t taken Gao Yao’s bow back then, perhaps Gao Yao wouldn’t have died. Even if he had died, he likely wouldn’t have died with regrets.

But no one can foresee the future. When he took the bow, he hadn’t imagined this day would come, and Gao Yao probably hadn’t anticipated that it would be his last time seeing the bow.

In the end, he could only sigh inwardly.

"Such is fate, such is life!"

...

"Don’t worry, I always act cautiously.

If I find their whereabouts, I will certainly investigate thoroughly before making any moves."

Seeing Bi Kai worry for him, Chen Zhou comforted him.

Upon hearing this, Bi Kai nodded.

"That’s best, but benefactor must ensure safety. Otherwise, how can I, Bi Kai, face Gao Yao in the afterlife?"

As he spoke, he struggled to stand up and moved aside to fetch some firewood, hoping to replenish the campfire.

Seeing this, Chen Zhou quickly rose, sheathed his sword, and helped Bi Kai add wood to the fire.

The new wood joined the campfire, needing a moment before igniting.

The sky was already quite dark; Chen Zhou initially wanted to ask for the mounts owed to him by the two, but upon seeing this scene, he hesitated.

A heart is of flesh, Gao Yao was dead, and Bi Kai’s situation was so difficult, how could he bear to speak up?

Even in the indifferent modern society, debt collectors faced with widows and orphans often struggle to speak up, especially around holidays.

Gesturing to the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger to stay put, Chen Zhou made a request to Bi Kai.

"May I ask where Gao Yao is buried? I would like to visit him."

...

The night was very dark.

The Great Horned Deer in the forest gathered together, as the severe cold consumed their fat reserves, forcing them to rest early after nightfall to conserve energy.

Tonight was a rare cloudless night, with a slender crescent moon hanging in the dark blue skies, sparse stars making the mountains appear especially desolate.

The faint moonlight passed through the tree branches, casting shadows on the slightly mounded earth, reflecting a crooked, peeled wooden post mark—the grave of Gao Yao.

Standing in front of the grave, Chen Zhou looked at the simple tomb, remembering Gao Yao’s lively demeanor when they first met, feeling a wave of sorrow in his heart.

In a hurried farewell, who could have anticipated there would be no chance to meet again?

There were neither incense nor offerings; Chen Zhou merely bowed three times, then made a promise—

He would bring Gao Yao’s family treasure bow back to be buried together with Gao Yao.

This would fulfill one of Gao Yao’s wishes, though it was unfortunate the bow was also heavily damaged.

Recalling the novels about martial heroes, many pledged to live as long as their swords lasted, rarely achieving such vows.

Looking at Bi Kai and Gao Yao, this saying seemed to ring true.

Gao Yao’s family treasure bow could no longer be used, his soul now laid to rest, and Bi Kai’s condition was dire. He feared he wouldn’t survive much longer.

If he didn’t already have a partner, and the challenge rules didn’t prohibit collaboration, allowing only one pair to emerge victorious, Chen Zhou would have liked to take Bi Kai to join him and Paul, at least providing two hot meals a day.

And even if Bi Kai lost his martial arts abilities, he still possessed beast-taming skills, enabling them to tame a herd of Great Horned Deer, serving as mounts when the weather wasn’t too cold, and when the cold was severe, they could be killed, buried in snow, and used as food reserves.

But constrained by the rules, Chen Zhou found himself unable to help Bi Kai.

Thinking of this, he secretly cursed the Space-Time Administration Bureau.

This challenge indeed had many damned people, but there were also those who lived honorably, never once betraying others.

Yet, regardless of one’s nature, in this challenge, they inevitably resorted to brute force, ironically making noble souls succumb to treacherous ones—how lamentable.

But after cursing, Chen Zhou realized that such scenarios existed not only in this challenge, but in modern society, both domestically and abroad, indeed always throughout history.

Murder and arson lead to riches, while building roads and bridges leave no corpses.

Though the rules were cruel, they unexpectedly mirrored reality.

"Alright then, if the rules can’t be changed, let’s see whose fists are bigger, whose tactics are tougher."

The attackers of Bi Kai and Gao Yao filled Chen Zhou’s heart with hatred. He could guarantee, should he encounter them in the future, he would surely strike them down.

...

Returning to the campfire, the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger was surrounding the little fawn on the ground. Each had its eyes widened, fixated intently, ready to pounce at the unmoving fawn.

Chen Zhou was about to scold them, but realized he could no longer hear the fawn’s faint heartbeat.

After Bi Kai checked the fawn’s body and saw the lifeless form like mud, Chen Zhou confirmed that the little creature was indeed dead.

"Alas~"

Sighing, Bi Kai proactively suggested that Chen Zhou take the deer herd away.

He explained the situation—

Due to consuming herbs to test toxicity, though he was still alive for now, his liver was poisoned, and his condition had advanced to an irreparable stage. Without treatment, he at most had two months to live.

Currently weak, he couldn’t care for the herd, merely taking them up the ridge to graze on dried grass beneath the snow.

With the elevated terrain, he could see further, particularly along the riverbank.

Previously, he hoped to spot people traveling between the river and the grasslands from the hill, looking to find Chen Zhou to fulfill Gao Yao’s wish.

Now, Chen Zhou had sought him out and promised to bring back Gao Yao’s bow for burial.

With the deer herd given to Chen Zhou, he fulfilled all his wishes, and could die peacefully.

As he spoke, Bi Kai’s face was full of resignation. Seeing his demeanor, Chen Zhou felt that if he took the herd tonight, Bi Kai would commit suicide by morning.

A martial world master who had lost his treasure sword, a sound body, his martial arts, and his brother.

Furthermore, he was unable to return home, or see familiar faces. Remaining in this world, he couldn’t avenge, what else was worth lingering for?

Reflecting on the situation, Chen Zhou felt that if he had experienced all this, even living twenty years longer than Bi Kai, he might not have coped any better.

A person who had endured so much pain, persevering in this barren land with a frail body, had already done remarkably well.

...

"I can’t care for the deer herd now.

Severe cold makes them weaker by the day following me.

If benefactor isn’t busy, please stay one more day, and I’ll teach you the beast-taming techniques Gao Yao passed onto me, providing them a future."

Muttering to Chen Zhou, Bi Kai curiously glanced at the sword hanging on Chen Zhou’s waist, puzzled.

"I recall benefactor using a spear, why wield a sword now?"

Seeing Bi Kai talk as if making arrangements, Chen Zhou contemplated refusing—

He suspected if he learned the deer-taming method, took the herd away, Bi Kai would then take his own life, afraid to learn this skill.

Moreover, what’s the use of beast-taming so late in the game? Temperatures soon dropping to below minus forty degrees, any beast without shelter would freeze, even humans found it hard to step outside, and no grass could be found to feed the deer. Their only use might be slaughter for meat.

When temperatures drop to minus sixty-five, staying indoors was problematic, better to spend time collecting firewood than daily grazing.

Unable to find a way to refuse, listening as Bi Kai changed the topic, Chen Zhou awkwardly smiled.

"I can use anything, swords, spears.

As long as the sword cuts, and the spear stabs, it’s effective, unlike your techniques."

"Benefactor’s martial arts have reached perfection, attaining no form surpasses form. We can only look up in admiration.

However, advancing in martial arts requires learning from many schools... in my view..."

Pausing, Bi Kai cautiously observed Chen Zhou’s reaction, seeing no displeasure, continued.

"My point is, there are some admirable techniques from our era.

Previously, in our hurried farewell, I forgot to tell benefactor that my ancestors were experts in swordsmanship, seeking mastery by learning other martial arts. Though I lack the same talent, I’ve learned some basics.

Benefactor previously used spears, now swords, I possess ’Yue Family Spear’ and a ’Shaolin Sword Technique’ for benefactor’s consideration.

If benefactor faced those adversaries in the future, having studied today, it might offer some assistance.

Benefactor, how does this sound?"

Many difficulties are glossed over.

A cripple, a lame and maimed injured person, in this frigid prehistoric world, must overcome

Many difficulties are glossed over.

A cripple, a lame and maimed injured person, in this frigid prehistoric world, must overcome