I Pray to the Gods

Night was deep, and the bonfire brought light to the camp.

From time to time, the crackling sound of burning branches could be heard, accompanied by sparks flying up into the sky.

This camp was not sturdy. Although a fence had been hastily set up, it was done too quickly and the fence was too short, offering negligible defense against the charge of fierce beasts. At most, it provided some psychological comfort to the members of the Exploration Team.

The real defensive measures were the large number of traps distributed around the camp.

Should fierce beasts attack, these traps would create obstacles and make loud noises, alerting the people in the camp.

Of course, sentries were also arranged around the camp, providing another layer of security.

In the past, most of the Exploration Team members would have been asleep by this time, but tonight, no one felt sleepy.

Many people gathered around the bonfire, talking to each other.

News about the abilities of the Flying Squirrel Leader and the Exploration Team's predicament of food shortage were known to everyone.

"In this situation, what should we do?"

"Food is the most important thing! Without food, we don't need any magic beasts; we'll all starve to death. No one is an exception, because no one can go without eating and drinking."

"I think we should kill these Flying Squirrels. Even if the Flying Squirrel Leader is strong, most of the Flying Squirrels are just ordinary wild beasts."

"Hmph, if you think that way, just wait to die. As long as the Flying Squirrel Leader bites into your flesh and blood, you'll die as soon as it discharges electricity. Even if Flying Squirrel Leaders are rare, we don't have many people, not enough for it to kill."

"Thinking back now, it's really terrifying. During the day, that Flying Squirrel Leader was only five steps away from me. Fortunately, it died at the hands of Lord Zhen Jin."

"Can the Flying Squirrel Leader really discharge electricity?" Some people expressed doubt.

But when he heard that this was the result of Cang Xu's deduction, no one was confused anymore.

"Looking at it this way, it's still thanks to Lord Zhen Jin! If he hadn't killed the Flying Squirrel Leader with one blow, we would definitely have lost people."

"In my opinion, we absolutely cannot touch this kind of beast pack. Perhaps next, we can encounter a better food source. So, let's take a detour. Or perhaps, finding the main force would also be good."

"Heh, your idea is too naive. Does the main force definitely have food? Don't forget, we are the group dispatched by the main force to explore the surroundings and search for food!"

"To return to the beach where we set off and rendezvous with the main force, we have no idea how long the journey is. It's very possible that we will encounter even stronger magic beasts along this path."

"Ultimately, how much longer can our food really last?"

Cang Xu lay inside his tent, listening to the sounds from outside. He looked at the top of the tent, knowing very well in his heart: the remaining food could only last for a maximum of seven days!

But at this moment, Cang Xu was more worried about the state of the team.

Everyone had their own ideas, and the team's morale had scattered. Each person had their own opinion. At this time, a leader was needed to make the final decision.

However, although Zhen Jin held this position, his prestige as a leader had not yet taken root in people's hearts.

The matter of the mutton seemed like a good thing that could increase Zhen Jin's prestige as a leader, but the result was that the entire team was poisoned, causing the team to be tossed back and forth, and they still hadn't harvested enough food.

Therefore, Zhen Jin couldn't consolidate his authority.

Then, it depends on this time, Cang Xu thought.

Frankly speaking, this was not a good opportunity.

However, reality was always like this; it was cold and ruthless, always placing unexpected events and problems directly here, unsatisfactory. People were often caught off guard and could not force things.

Whether it was Zhen Jin, Zi Di, or Cang Xu himself, or even the entire exploration team, they had all been pushed into a corner by reality.

"Only by overcoming this difficult reality can you truly take charge of this team. So, Zhen Jin, young leader, how will you choose?"

Holding this question, Cang Xu slowly fell asleep.

"How should I choose?" Zhen Jin fell into deep thought.

As a leader, he had no right to escape, only to bear the burden!

"Currently, the team lacks food. Dealing with the flying squirrel swarm is one option to obtain food. But the risk is very high, and the exploration team's combat strength is insufficient. Being electrocuted by the flying squirrel leader will inevitably result in heavy casualties."

"But I need a great victory. A resounding victory is the ideal outcome. If it's just a Pyrrhic victory with too many casualties, the remaining people will inevitably be disappointed and no longer expect my leadership."

"At the same time, the size of the entire exploration team is not large. If there are too many casualties, how can the remaining people help me compete for the position of White Sand City Lord?"

Besides this option, Zhen Jin knew he had another choice.

"That is to abandon this flying squirrel colony, continue exploring, and hope to find a better food source in the future."

"This option can keep the entire team temporarily stable, but the food reserves can only last for a maximum of seven days. What will happen next is actually hard to say."

"It could be a weaker beast group, or it could be a direct encounter with a terrifying magical beast that wipes out the entire exploration team."

"If food is strictly controlled and reduced as much as possible, it can last for more than ten days."

"But doing so carries great risk."

"Once food becomes scarce, people will panic, and may even become wary of each other, hunt each other, and devour each other to survive!"

"My prestige is not enough to suppress such human hearts. If this situation occurs, the entire team will not collapse but riot."

"Even if I'm fine, Zi Di will be implicated!"

As Zhen Jin was deep in thought, a thought suddenly popped into his head.

This thought was so bold and terrifying that Zhen Jin himself was startled—"If I'm pushed to a dead end, to survive, will I kill others and eat human flesh?"

"No, how is that possible! If I do that, what's the difference between me and those wild beasts and animals!? I am a Temple Knight."

Zhen Jin felt a deep sense of shame.

Temple Knights represent light and courage. On the battlefield, Temple Knights always charge at the front. In life, Temple Knights uphold justice, maintain kindness, and protect the weak.

"It turns out that being a leader is so difficult. I'm probably being driven mad, otherwise how could I have such a terrifying thought?"

At this moment, Zhen Jin truly felt that being a leader was not easy at all.

A leader must bear their responsibilities, not betray the trust of their subordinates, find the right path when lost, and lead everyone out of difficulty.

What's more, Zhen Jin carried far more than just this.

He thought of Zi Di. In his opinion, his fiancee had always trusted him, protected him with all her might, and stayed by his side.

He also thought of his family, his father who had only one arm left. He could not die. He had to become the White Sand City Lord. This was a crucial step for the Hundred Needles Family's revival.

And there was his pride as a noble, his glory as a Temple Knight...

As he thought, Zhen Jin's brows furrowed tighter, his chest felt heavy, and he even felt a sense of suffocation.

His tent was already the largest, but at this moment, the entire tent was like the giant claw of a monster, constantly contracting, as if choking Zhen Jin's throat.

Zhen Jin resisted the immense pressure. The voices outside the tent gradually faded, and most of the exploration team members crawled into their tents to sleep. However, Zhen Jin felt the pressure becoming heavier and more immense.

He didn't know how long passed before Zhen Jin let out a soft sigh, suddenly bent over, and slumped weakly onto the military blanket, leaning his back against the only wooden support pole in the tent.

"Hoo hoo hoo..."

Zhen Jin gasped for breath, his forehead covered in sweat.

He felt intensely fatigued. This fatigue wasn't physical, but rather a deep mental exhaustion.

"What should I do?" Zhen Jin was still confused and distressed.

Subconsciously, he knelt on the ground and began to pray again.

"Saint Brilliance Great Emperor, my God, Your gaze is above the clouds, and no amount of mist can hinder Your advancing steps. You hold the reins of a vast empire, leading billions of Your subjects to victory. You are so wise, You are so decisive, You can see through the trajectory of fate."

"Now, Your loyal and humble believer prays to You. I beg You to guide my path, please part the mist of fate for me, I beg You to protect me, so that I may uphold the pride of a noble and the glory of a knight."

However, the gods did not respond.

Zhen Jin waited.

He desperately awaited a response from the gods.

Time passed silently, flowing continuously.

This was a long wait.

Zhen Jin knelt on the ground, his head bowed, facing the direction of the Saint Brilliance Empire.

This was a stubborn wait.

In this prayer, Zhen Jin displayed unprecedented patience.

However, in the end, as the icy chill of deep night continuously seeped in through the fine gaps in the tent, it also entered Zhen Jin's nostrils, penetrating from his skin into his heart.

Zhen Jin's heart seemed to gradually grow cold, and his eagerly anticipating heart plummeted to the bottom.

Zhen Jin realized the cruel reality – the gods still hadn't responded to him, and he wouldn't receive any instructions from the Saint Brilliance Great Emperor.

The tent in the deep night was filled with darkness, without a single ray of light.

The young Zhen Jin knelt on the ground, like a stone statue.

After a long time, the stone statue let out a sigh. He no longer knelt, but struggled to stand up.

His legs and feet were sore and numb. Zhen Jin stomped his feet, relaxing his muscles.

His eyes were vacant, and his heart was heavy. He knew that he could only rely on himself.

Without guidance from the gods, the path ahead was pitch black.

But he had to keep going!

Staying put would only mean waiting for death and disappointing everyone.

Life was just like this.

People are often forced by life to make various decisions when their future is uncertain. Even they themselves know how reckless such choices are! And yet, people still have to bear the consequences of their choices, whether bitter or sweet.

Zhen Jin could only continue to think.

Strangely, this time, he didn't feel the same embarrassment as before.

It was as if he had broken through a limit, perhaps because the gods hadn't responded, making him fully understand that he couldn't rely on anyone.

When morning arrived, the birdsong in the forest grew louder, and Zhen Jin suddenly realized that an entire night had passed.

He lifted the tent flap and happened to see the morning sun.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the half-dark forest. There was still white mist in the forest in the early morning, and the air felt wet and cold. Zhen Jin breathed it in, feeling a refreshing sensation.

The moment he lifted the tent flap, he was the wise and mighty leader who saw through everything and could make the most correct choices.

Even if he knew he wasn't, he had to act the part!

There was no longer a trace of hesitation on his face; he had made his decision!

Everyone was quickly summoned to hear Zhen Jin issue a series of orders.

"Lan Zao, over the next few days, you are to continue scouting and gather more information about the Flying Squirrel colony."

"Huang Zao, Bai Ya, Cang Xu, you are responsible for selecting wood. We need to build a batch of short bows."

"Zi Di, I need you to concoct potions, preferably ones that will also be effective against the Flying Squirrel Leader."

That's right, Zhen Jin had decided to hunt this herd of Flying Squirrels.