Chapter 10 (He Has Disappeared) The Clear Creek Follows the Treacherous Flow

The group traced the terrain under Wang Xiang's leadership and studied the topography of the mountain. To their surprise, they discovered that they didn't have to go down the mountain via the winding road and could instead follow the creek downward. They soon saw another mountain top, where the first supply point was located.

The flow of the creek was neither fast nor slow. It wasn't a shallow creek either. Based on the topography of the mountain, Wang Xiang concluded that there couldn't possibly be a waterfall. Thus, it was completely safe for them to follow the creek downward. However, there would be strange stones protruding from the sides of the creek every now and then. If they went down from the coastal side, they didn't know if they would be able to get a direct route.

A glimpse through the binoculars told them that there were already a significant amount of olive-green silhouettes hidden from the view in the forest beneath the mountain. From the looks of things, there were already people who had reached the bottom.

The matter could no longer be delayed. Zheng Kai fished out a Swiss Army knife from his knapsack and abruptly slashed the bamboo trees next to him with confident familiarity. The bamboo trees collapsed to the ground with a sighing sound.

Wang Xiang and Lin Wenxi both helped to chop off a jade-green bamboo each. Zhao Yuan frowned. "Don't blindly waste your efforts!" He pointed at a comparatively aged-looking bamboo. "There'll be water inside the fresh bamboos. Its cavity won't be quite empty. Don't start building a Titanic bamboo raft now, where it won't even hold the weight of a single person! The old and hollow bamboos are more useful."

Wang Xiang looked discontented. When he saw the protruding blue veins all over Zheng Kai's arm and heard the unending sound of bamboos snapping, he took in a deep breath. On the other hand, Lin Wenxi looked unperturbed and looked for bamboos without a word. Zheng Kai couldn't help flashing a look of admiration at Zhao Yuan. Even someone like Zhao Yuan had such a good grasp of logic.

After laboring for no less than an hour, Zheng Kai and Zhao Yuan had finished chopping ten bamboos each while Wang Xiang and Lin Wenxi chopped five altogether. Zheng Kai selected eighteen of the best bamboos as material and then began threading ropes with Zhao Yuan. Lin Wenxi and Wang Xiang had no way of intervening at the moment and thus resorted to sitting on the side. Wang Xiang repeatedly studied the map while Lin Wenxi read a book written in some ancient language that others had no way of reading with ease.

Zheng Kai nimbly took out a rope and swiftly turned it over in his hands. Before long, a bamboo raft was already tightly secured. It took less than half an hour for him to finish the construction. After a quick discussion with Zhao Yuan, they gathered the life buoys of the three of them and some useful vacuum seal bags and tied them to the raft after inflating them.

"Mine." Lin Wenxi handed over his own life jacket.

"Alright, alright. Just one glance at you tells us that you can't swim," Zhao Yuan said disdainfully. Lin Wenxi put his hands on his hips but didn't know how to retaliate for that was theoretically the truth.

Before long, everyone climbed onto the bamboo raft. Zhao Yuan, being meddlesome, erected a meter-long pillar on the side. Seeing as Zheng Kai was confused, Zhao Yuan shrugged and said, "You'll understand why later."

Zheng Kai pushed the bamboo raft into the creek while fastening a rope around the trunk of a large tree. He jumped onto the raft, spread his legs, and began to firmly rock the raft. Only then did he waved his hand to signal everyone else to climb onto the raft. Zhao Yuan was the first to jump onto the raft and stood on it very firmly. Lin Wenxi followed Wang Xiang up the raft but the swaying raft caused him to lose his footing. He immediately grabbed onto the pillar that Zhao Yuan prepared to stand firm on his feet. Zheng Kai looked at Zhao Yuan and gave him a thumbs-up. He had to give it up to Zhao Yuan!

Wang Xiang carefully squatted on the raft and pulled on the knot that kept the bamboo raft tied together. He said admiringly, "Zheng Kai, if I'm a girl, I'll definitely fall in love with you."

Zheng Kai turned around to look at him with a frown. "Don't speak. Watch our route carefully, you damned homo!" Suddenly, a white light glinted. Wang Xiang jumped in surprise. The habit of the square-shaped military boxing squad caused him to use the first style in a moment of panic—protecting himself. Unexpectedly, he saw Zheng Kai was only cutting off the rope that tied the raft to the tree, allowing the raft to move downward along with the flow.

Zheng Kai turned around with a raised eyebrow. "Wang Xiang, are you masturbating?" Wang Xiang pursed his lips. "Damn you!"

The water in the creek was incredibly limpid but the flow was very slow. Sure enough, Wang Xiang was very familiar with the map. It was also no wonder the Defense Branch had chosen this place as the contest venue. To university students with some capabilities, there wasn't any danger to speak of. Zheng Kai focused on moving the raft with the pole. He took off his jacket to reveal his chest and began singing at the top of his voice. Unfortunately, the lyrics caused Wang Xiang to tremble greatly. "Younger Sister, you sit at the bow of the ship. Brother, I, will walk on the shore..."

When Zhao Yuan saw that Lin Wenxi had his back against Zheng Kai, he couldn't help raising an eyebrow with a smile. He took off his jacket and stood in front of Lin Wenxi. Lin Wenxi shifted to face another direction, not seeing him. Zhao Yuan noticed that Lin Wenxi's ears were turning faintly red. He couldn't help laughing even more brightly.

Zheng Kai heaved a sigh. He cleared his throat and spat phlegm into the water. "Zhao Yuan, don't act so overfamiliarly with him. I've gotten tired. It's your turn." Zhao Yuan obediently took over the bamboo pole and also navigated the waters incredibly steadily.

"Sing me a song or two." Zheng Ki stood on the raft with his hands on his hips without even holding onto the railing. He placed his arm around Wang Xiang's shoulder, frightening the latter so much that he nearly fell into the water. Wang Xiang trembled with fear for a good while, saying, "Little bamboo raft, flow with the current; fish swims, birds sing; both sides of the river are lined with trees; the seedlings are lush and green; the land of fish and rice; little bamboo raft... swims in the painting..." When he finished reciting, he trembled as he looked at Zheng Kai and awaited his sentence.

"You sure know how to pick your song based on the mood. Not bad. Sing me another song. I want it to be related to the bamboo raft," Zheng Kai ordered.

Wang Xiang rubbed his head. It took him a good while to stretch his neck and sang, "A little bamboo raft flows along the river, traveling along towering green mountains on both sides of the shore. The mighty eagle spreads its wings and soars through the sky. Even when wind and rain strikes, the burden of revolution weighs heavily on the shoulders. The teachings of the party are etched deeply into the mind..."

Zheng Kai rubbed Wang Xiang's head. "Keep my teachings deeply ingrained into your mind. I'm not a homo but a straight guy. I like Chen. Wan. Xin!"

Wang Xiang looked at the fair and graceful silhouette on the shore. His eyes glinted as he said, "Do you dare to shout it a louder?"

Zheng Kai's courage surged. He yelled, "I, Zheng Kai! Like! Chen Wanxin!"

Chen Wanxin's chiding scream came from a short distance away from the shore. "Zheng Kai, you shameless man!" The moment Zheng Kai heard her words, he was like a deflating rubber ball. He hung his head and fell into total silence. Zhao Yuan smiled placidly and yelled, "Zheng Kai likes Chen Wanxin very much!" Zhang An'an replied equally loudly, "What about you, Zhao Yuan?!"

"Zhao Yuan wants to fight him for the girl!" Wang Xiang yelled. Then, he screeched.

"Wang Xiang, I think you're the one who wants to snatch Chen Wanxin's husband," Zhang An'an said.

"You damned woman!" Wang Xiang couldn't help feeling indignant.

Zheng Kai once again placed his arm over Wang Xiang's shoulders. "Brother, do you know your crime yet?"

"I do." Wang Xiang nodded carefully.

"Are you happy?" Zheng Kai asked.

"I am..." Wang Xiang hemmed and hawed.

"Then recite thirty-eight poems to express your incredible happiness. Or I'll push you off the raft immediately," Zheng Kai said loudly.

Lin Wenxi couldn't help laughing after hearing what kind of punishment it was. Zhao Yuan looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Suddenly, he felt something opening up in his chest, giving rise to a proudly singing grand passion.

"Why should one catch the spring wind in a famous park, when spring flowers blossom throughout the journey..."

"My high horse proudly gallops with the gentle spring breeze; I see all the flowers in Chang'an in a single day..."

"Gon, gon, ospreys cry, crying on the shoal..."

"On the banks the monkeys call incessantly, but my skiff has passed beyond the thousand mountains..."

Unexpectedly, Zheng Kai conscientiously counted that Wang Xiang had recited thirty-seven poems. Wang Xiang had exhausted his entire knowledge bank and cried pitifully, "Earth endures, heaven endures; someday they may both end, while this endless sorrow goes on and on forever!" He closed his eyes and raised his butt, waiting for Zheng Kai to send him into the water with a kick.

The poker face finally spoke.

"Let me help you with the final poem: Leaving the home with hearty laughter aimed at heaven; how could we be mediocre people with ambitions?" Lin Wenxi said with a smile. Wang Xiang's eyes widened as he stared at Zheng Kai bracing himself with the pole with his sweat-drenched chest exposed. He then laughed heartily.

"Is there such a poem?" Zheng Kai said unhappily.

"There is, there is," Wang Xiang added. He then recited the complete poem by Li Bai. Deep inside, he was surprised as he had never seen Lin Wenxi reciting any sort of verse, song, or poetry. He didn't expect Lin Wenxi to read such an emotional and apt poem the moment he opened his mouth. He feared he was no match for Lin Wenxi.

"I'll let you off just this once, seeing as poker face is putting a word in for you." Zheng Kai cast a sideways look at Lin Wenxi. Suddenly, he bellowed. "Damn! Waterfall! All of you, jump into the water!" While speaking, he was already kicking Wang Xiang on the butt and forcing him into the water. Zhao Yuan's reaction was even faster. He inserted the pole into the crack between stones and supported the bamboo raft. In a flash, he greatly cushioned the falling tendency of the raft. He then landed a great kick at Zheng Kai's back before gently carrying Lin Wenxi and throwing him next to Zheng Kai. By the time Zhao Yuan wanted to jump off the raft, it was already too late.

The three of them poked their bodies out of the water that reached their chests. Right then, they saw the creek washing the bamboo raft away and no sign of Zhao Yuan anywhere.