After walking for a little over an hour, Piris stopped in a secluded area where enormous trees stood among rock walls.
It was a natural hollow gouged out by a fallen giant tree.
The tree's roots had torn free of the soil, forming a partially sheltered cavity against the rock wall. Overlapping layers of branches and leaves completely concealed it from above.
A thick, soft carpet of moss covered the ground, and a faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air.
"This is the spot. Put the wounded down."
Piris stamped on the ground to make sure there were no insect nests.
Several team members who could still move began clearing away the dead leaves and loose stones.
They fashioned a few supports from broken branches and propped up two metal panels brought from the bunker, making a simple shelter.
A few others took out a field stove and water bags and began boiling water.
These were all the supplies the expedition team had left. Their pots and bowls were battered and dented, but in this primeval forest, even those counted as luxuries.
Xu Feng did not stand idle.
He helped Li Hengkong clean the wound on his shoulder again, applied wound-repair fluid, then wrapped it tightly with clean bandages.
Afterward, Xu Feng carefully took out several energy bars and small bottles of drinking water, handing them to the most severely wounded.
His kindness finally earned him a "thank you" from quite a few of the haughty expedition members, who then leaned against the rock wall and slowly began eating.
A short, thin team member with pale blue skin looked up at Xu Feng as he accepted an energy bar, giving him a weak but sincere smile.
Half of one trouser leg was missing. His calf was wrapped in