Viewers clicked into the live stream right on time. There were eight camera angles, corresponding to the eight explorers, and the live stream started simultaneously from the moment they jumped from the helicopter.
Originally, everyone was watching their own content, and the comments didn't interfere with each other, until someone noticed that the style of one of the live streams was completely different from the other seven.
The person in the video got stuck in a tree as soon as he landed. While others landed smoothly, he was suspended in the treetop by a parachute and swayed several times.
Then he hugged the tree trunk and started to scramble down, but halfway down he slipped and landed on a pile of decaying leaves, giving the camera a thumbs-up and saying something.
One comment popped up. "Wait, is this person speaking Chinese?"
"It seems so. Did I hear that right? This show actually invited people from mainland China?"
"There's a label in the top left corner: Song Shi'an, in both Chinese and English. The production team really gave him face."
This adventure reality show started airing three years ago and has a large audience both domestically and internationally, focusing on realism and excitement.
This time, the Costa Rica rainforest was chosen as the location, making it more challenging than any previous episode. Most of the participants were familiar veterans of extreme sports.
Occasionally, some celebrities will participate in the show for free in order to gain popularity, but it seems that mainland Chinese celebrities have only appeared on the show once or twice.
The last time mainlanders came was last year. They lasted less than an hour before calling for a rescue team and running away halfway. The comments section was filled with ridicule for the entire season.
Song Shi'an's fans rushed over upon hearing the news, and the atmosphere in the live stream completely changed.
"Just arrived! What happened up there?! Why is An'an participating in this variety show? It looks so dangerous!"
"I've been here since the skydive, and my heart still hasn't returned to its normal position. I recorded the part before the jump and will share it afterward. He was really brave!"
"This camera angle is too tricky, shooting from below. Anyone else would have been killed, but he actually managed to pull it off."
"Can't you guys focus on the important points? He's all alone in the rainforest, and all he has is a dagger!"
Song Shi'an in the video had no idea what the comments were saying. He was using a dagger to cut through the weeds blocking his way. His military green trousers were covered in mud, and his combat boots creaked as he stepped on the decaying leaves.
The rainforest was stuffy and humid; my back was soaked through after walking for only a short while.
Viewers could only see his legs and arms in the shot; occasionally, when he bent down to cut vines, a section of his chin would be visible. His hand holding the dagger had several small scratches, and his cuffs were frayed from being scratched by the bushes.
Song Shi'an now just wants to slap himself back to half a month ago, and never say that adventure is fun again; anyone who comes here is a complete traitor.
Ahead was a steep downhill slope, the slippery soil covered with a thin layer of moss.
He probed downwards with his foot and almost slipped, then quickly pulled his foot back and looked around for something to lean on.
Several thick vines hung down from the tree next to him, and he reached out to try and grab one.
The next second, the live chat exploded.
"Holy crap! Is that a snake up there?!"
"A lashed palm viper! Oh my god! A poisonous snake! An'an, be careful!"
"Didn't the production team warn you about this?!"
Some people drifted by with schadenfreude.
How long will it take for this bite to stop?
"If you don't have the serum, it'll take an hour. You come here knowing nothing; don't end up like the last few times, being carried away, hahaha."
Song Shi'an was still searching for the strongest vine when his finger touched something slippery.
This vine is quite beautiful; its color has a cool sheen, and it feels icy to the touch.
Just as he was about to pull hard, he turned his head and came face to face with a triangular snake head, so close that he could see his own reflection in the snake's vertical pupils.
The audience held their breath in unison.
Then they saw Song Shi'an let go of her hand.
He took half a step back and waved at the snake. "I didn't see you pull the wrong one. You can go back to sleep, I'm leaving now."
After saying that, he switched to another vine, tugged at it a couple of times to make sure it was sturdy, and then slowly slid down using both his hands and feet.
The lashed palm viper stood with its forequarters upright in a defensive posture, watching the strange human slowly slide down the hillside in front of it.
The snakehead followed him around for a while, seemingly confused as well.
After a brief silence, the comments section went on a frenzy.
"No, what about the dignity of a snake! He was practically strangling you, and you didn't bite him!"
"I took a screenshot of the snake's expression; it's practically screaming, 'Why aren't humans following the script?'"
"Good snake, from today onwards I'm no longer afraid of snakes. You have to be a good girl and let An'an safely reach the finish line."
"Where are those people who mocked mainlanders earlier? Come out and show yourselves! Can you stay this calm when a snake is shoved in your face?"
"Did he just talk to the snake? Did he say 'You keep sleeping'? Is that right...?"
Song Shi'an slid to the bottom of the slope, patted the mud off his hands, and took out a compass to check the direction.
The hands didn't budge. He flicked the dial with his finger and shook it, but the hands still didn't move.
I don't know if it was damaged when I fell or if there's some magnetic interference under this forest, but anyway, this thing is just for show now.
He put the compass back in his pocket and looked around.
It was all dense trees, and monkeys darted about in the canopy overhead, their calls echoing from one side to the other.
He remembered the director mentioning that this rainforest was a common habitat for jaguars.
We need to find a high vantage point to assess the terrain.
He avoided the direction where the monkeys were gathered and chose the tallest-looking tree.
The tree trunk is straight, and even the lowest branches are three or four meters off the ground.
He tucked the dagger back into his waistband, grabbed the tree trunk with both hands, and with a push of his feet, leaped up.
The ten days of training at the climbing gym were fully demonstrated at this moment; gripping the target, exerting force, and moving upwards were all done in one smooth motion.
The viewers in the live chat were confused again.
"What are you doing? Why are you suddenly climbing a tree? Are you hungry? There's no fruit on the tree."
"While other livestreamers are rushing around like crazy, this guy is climbing a tree."
The other seven cameras were all moving forward steadily, but Song Shi'an's live stream was completely baffling.
The audience doesn't know what he's going to do next, but that only makes them more eager to watch.
Several people who were originally watching other explorers switched over, and the number of people increased rapidly.
Director Chloe watched the real-time data behind the monitor, unable to suppress the smirk on her face.
They initially contacted Song Shi'an because of his physical abilities and good looks, hoping to capitalize on his status as an Asian angel. However, the live stream's success far exceeded their expectations.
This young man just stood there doing nothing, but the scene of him chatting with the snake has already been edited into a GIF and gone viral by overseas netizens.
He pressed the intercom to signal the rescue team to be on standby. Although he had high hopes for Song Shi'an, the difficulty of this project was undeniable, and to date, very few people had persevered to the finish line.