As soon as the words fell, the guests at the scene instantly grew tense and began to act one after another.
Lin Weiwei immediately grabbed Zhao Lei’s arm and shook it, her tone coquettish yet urgent. “Brother Lei, let’s go quickly. The earlier we set off, the easier it’ll be to find a water source. I don’t want to sleep out in the open tonight!”
Zhao Lei steadied her and reassured her calmly, “Don’t worry. Just follow me—we’ll definitely complete the task first.” As he spoke, he protected her and quickly headed toward the eastern entrance. Lin Weiwei clung to his arm the entire time, her steps light but deliberately slowed, afraid the camera wouldn’t keep up with her.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu followed Su Qing toward the southern entrance. As he walked, he frowned and muttered, “We need to find water quickly and set up a tent. I hate mosquitoes the most—I can’t stand sleeping out in the open!” Su Qing slung her backpack over her shoulder neatly and urged him over her shoulder, “Stop nagging and hurry up. If you can’t keep up physically, just say it—I’ll drag you!” Chen Yu quickly followed, his face full of resistance toward the wilderness environment.
On the other side, Li Haoran was carefully checking the supplies in their backpack with Sun Xiaoya, patiently reminding her, “Put the fire starter and salt away first—don’t lose them. I’ll hold the map for now, and we’ll slowly find our direction later.” Sun Xiaoya nodded timidly, sticking close behind him as she murmured softly, “Brother Haoran, I’m a little scared of bugs. You have to protect me later.”
Liu Yue and Wang Hao quickly gathered together to divide tasks. Liu Yue held the map and pointed out directions. “Let’s enter from the north side. We’ll look for low-lying areas first—there’s a high chance we’ll find water there. You clear the path and cut branches, I’ll record the route. That’s the most efficient.” Wang Hao patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle all the physical work. I won’t let you get tired!” The two worked in perfect coordination and soon set off briskly toward the entrance, their pace clean and decisive.
Zheng Kai glanced at Zhou Chaochao, who was still standing in place with a calm and composed expression. He immediately grew anxious, his brows furrowing so tightly they could crush a mosquito. His tone carried obvious impatience and urging. “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up! Everyone’s already set off. If we keep wasting time, we definitely won’t finish before dark. Don’t tell me you really want to sleep out in the wild?”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Zhou Chaochao’s arm, but she subtly sidestepped and avoided him, her movement natural yet distant.
Zhou Chaochao held the map between her fingers and spread it open in her palm. Her gaze was sharp as an eagle’s as she quickly scanned the contour lines, vegetation distribution, and marked points. Her fingertip traced swiftly across the valley area. Her tone was steady and decisive, carrying an unquestionable judgment.
“Rushing is useless. We need to determine the direction first. Look—our entrance is on the west side. The contour lines here are dense, which means it’s downhill terrain. Streams are most likely in the low-lying valleys. If we head northwest, we can save time and find the water source more precisely. Blindly rushing will only waste energy and cause more trouble.”
Her speech was not fast, yet every word was clear and logically structured. The certainty and professionalism in her eyes made Zheng Kai freeze for a moment. He opened his mouth but forgot to refute her, secretly astonished. She actually knows how to read contour lines?
The barrage of comments paused for a brief moment before exploding:
【What is she talking about? Is she just pretending?】【This has to be scripted! The production team must’ve leaked info beforehand!】【Since when does Zhou Mumu understand this? Wasn’t she always delicate and weak?】【??? She can actually read contour maps? That’s not something you can fake easily!】【Her analysis sounds so professional! Way more reliable than those rushing blindly!】【Zheng Kai is panicking while Zhou Mumu is calm as a mountain—what a contrast!】【Did she just memorize this last minute? What if she’s wrong—Kai’s gonna cry!】【If she really knows maps, this team hit the jackpot! Kai should be secretly happy!】【That stunned look on Kai’s face is so real—he’s clearly shocked hahaha!】【I thought she was useless before, but now I’m kind of looking forward to this!】
Zhou Chaochao folded the map neatly and tucked it into the side pocket of her backpack, fastening it securely to prevent it from falling. She lifted her gaze toward the mist-covered forest in the northwest, her eyes sharp like an unsheathed blade. Her tone was concise and decisive.
“Let’s go.”
She stepped forward first, her pace steady and powerful. Each step landed precisely on solid ground, avoiding slippery leaves and protruding roots. Her footing was stable yet light, displaying the crisp decisiveness ingrained in her like that of a soldier. Zheng Kai snapped out of his daze. Though there was still a trace of disdain on his face, he didn’t dare urge her again. He could only hurry to follow, his steps somewhat clumsy and unsteady as he muttered inwardly, I hope she’s not just guessing… otherwise these seven days will be unbearable.
In the distance, the jungle’s mist had yet to dissipate. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, their dense canopies intertwining and leaving only scattered patches of sunlight. Faint calls of unknown birds and beasts echoed through the forest, carrying both the tranquility of a primitive wilderness and hidden dangers.
In the split screens of the other groups’ livestreams, chaos reigned, each facing their own predicament:
Lin Weiwei stopped every few steps, tugging at Zhao Lei and complaining about the muddy road and dirty shoes. Zhao Lei had no choice but to repeatedly stop and comfort her, slowing their pace.
Chen Yu and Su Qing argued heatedly over the route. Chen Yu insisted that open areas were safer, while Su Qing believed water must be in low-lying places. Neither would back down, wasting time on the spot.
Sun Xiaoya shrank behind Li Haoran, squealing fearfully at the slightest movement in the grass. “Brother Haoran, there are so many bugs—I’m too scared to walk!” She clutched his sleeve tightly, barely moving an inch.
Only Zhou Chaochao’s group advanced with remarkable smoothness and efficiency.
She led the way the entire time, her steps steady and even. Whenever thorny obstacles blocked the path, she raised her hand and flicked her wrist, cutting them cleanly with a blade. When encountering steep slopes, she paused briefly to observe, selected a safe and gentle path, then descended steadily while clearing loose stones to prevent slipping. Zheng Kai followed behind her, not needing to think about directions at all—he simply followed her steps, saving considerable energy.
About half an hour passed. Zheng Kai was already panting heavily, sweat covering his forehead. He leaned against a tree, supporting his knees as he gasped. “Wait… let’s… take a break. I really can’t go on.”
Zhou Chaochao stopped in response, her breathing still steady, not a trace of sweat on her forehead. She turned and handed him her water bottle, her tone calm. “Drink some water. Don’t gulp it. The water source is about two kilometers away. Save your strength—we’ll be there soon.”
Zheng Kai took the bottle and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. After catching his breath, his eyes were full of astonishment as he asked, “How are you so sure it’s two kilometers? The map isn’t that precise!”
“By listening to the water,” Zhou Chaochao said, tilting her head slightly, her expression calm. “You can faintly hear the sound of flowing water. Combined with the wind direction and how sound travels through the forest, you can estimate the distance roughly.”
Zheng Kai’s eyes widened instantly, his face full of disbelief. “You can even tell that? That’s insane!”
The barrage filled with question marks and doubt:
【Seriously? Judging distance by sound? That’s ridiculous!】【Definitely scripted! The production team must’ve told her in advance!】【Since when did Zhou Mumu become an outdoor expert? She used to need help opening bottles!】【Better than Bear Grylls? Did she scout the place beforehand?】
Zhou Chaochao didn’t explain further. Once Zheng Kai had recovered, she stepped forward again.
“Let’s go. We should set up camp while it’s still light.”
After another twenty minutes of walking, Zhou Chaochao raised her hand and pushed aside the dense bushes. The view suddenly opened up—
A clear stream flowed gently before them, the sound of water trickling softly. The water was crystal clear, and beside it lay a flat, dry patch of land with solid ground and no standing water—an ideal campsite.
Among the five groups, they were the first to find a water source!
Zheng Kai stared at the stream, then turned to Zhou Chaochao, who remained calm. His mouth hung open in shock, all his previous disdain completely washed away. He blurted out, “Damn, you’re incredible! You actually found it!” The moment he finished, he stubbornly tried to cover up his embarrassment, scratching his face. “Ahem… guess you just got lucky.”
At that moment, Song Zhe’s off-screen voice sounded with excitement. “Congratulations to the Yellow Team—Zhou Mumu and Zheng Kai—for being the first to find a water source! You’ve won first place in the first round! You’ve unlocked an exclusive tent and sleeping bags for tonight, along with priority access to supplies!”
The livestream chat exploded once again, now mixed with genuine shock and confusion:
【What the hell? They really got first? Did I underestimate her before?】【Still saying it’s luck? With that navigation and sound judgment?】【Compared to other groups still wandering, this team is ridiculously smooth!】【Could it be that Zhou Mumu actually knows survival skills?】【Everyone used to call her a freeloader and a fragile vase—this contrast is insane!】【Zheng Kai is hilarious—he praises her then immediately acts tough!】【Am I the only one who finds her super reliable? Way better than those whining all the time!】
The camera split to show reactions from the other groups:
Red Team (Lin Weiwei & Zhao Lei): Zhao Lei frowned and sped up. “We need to pick up the pace.” Lin Weiwei pouted, unwilling to accept it. “Why did she find it first? It must’ve been luck.”
Blue Team (Chen Yu & Su Qing): They immediately stopped arguing. Chen Yu widened his eyes in disbelief. “She found it first?” Su Qing raised an eyebrow. “She’s got some skill. Stop arguing and follow me—we’re heading to low ground.”
Purple Team (Li Haoran & Sun Xiaoya): Li Haoran nodded in admiration. “Her route selection was very professional—precise and energy-saving.” Sun Xiaoya, however, grew anxious, her eyes reddening. “Are we going to be last? I don’t want to sleep outside—it’s so scary.”
Orange Team (Liu Yue & Wang Hao): Liu Yue sighed lightly. “We’re a step behind. We need to speed up.” Wang Hao patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll clear the path faster—we’ll catch up!”
The camera returned to a close-up of the Yellow Team.
Zhou Chaochao crouched by the stream, scooped up a handful of water, and tasted it lightly. Her brows relaxed slightly as she nodded with certainty. “The water is clean and odorless. It’s safe to drink directly.”
She stood up immediately without hesitation and walked toward the open ground by the bank. Her steps were quick as her gaze swept over the terrain. She brushed aside grass to inspect the ground, tapped it to assess its firmness, and quickly selected a campsite backed by a slope, near water, and well-ventilated. Her movements were crisp and efficient.
Zheng Kai was still standing there in a daze, staring at the stream. By the time he snapped out of it, she had already taken off her backpack and was rummaging for tent parts. He hurried over, standing awkwardly at the side, watching her with newfound trust in his eyes.
Zhou Chaochao glanced at him. “Set up the tent. Take out the sleeping bags and lay them out to air.”
Zheng Kai responded instinctively, “Oh, okay.” He fumbled as he opened his backpack, nearly dropping an energy bar while searching for supplies. All his earlier disdain was gone, replaced by obedient cooperation.
Zhou Chaochao lifted her gaze toward the camera. Her expression was calm, yet a sharp edge lay hidden within, deep as a cold abyss.
It was as if, through the screen, she was silently declaring to those who had once mocked and belittled her—
This was only the beginning.
These seven days of wilderness survival… this long-overdue counterattack… had just begun.