Chapter 823 - 25: Farewell (2)

Chapter 823: Chapter 25: Farewell (2)

No matter what, Chen Zhou was the main pillar that allowed him to persevere until now.

A single deceit could not change the fact that Chen Zhou had saved his life multiple times, and what he did could be done by any challenger, perhaps even better than him.

In front of Chen Zhou, Paul smiled awkwardly before asking.

"Chen, I know you have participated in the challenge twice and know much more about the Space-Time Administration Bureau than I do.

I want to ask you, will there be a day when we meet again?"

"Maybe yes, maybe no."

Chen Zhou answered, and after speaking, he felt his answer was somewhat pointless and added.

"If you go back only thinking about living your life peacefully, then I believe we will never meet again.

If you want to continue facing challenges and climbing higher peaks, I think fate will bring us together again.

But if I were you, I would never participate in such dangerous challenges again; enjoying life and living is pretty good."

Having said that, Chen Zhou looked at the tall Paul and his honest appearance, couldn’t help advising him:

"When you go back, be more mindful, don’t easily trust others, especially matters regarding me and General Gromov, it’s best not to tell anyone.

As the ’hero’ who completed the challenge, I believe if you wish, you can step into the political arena.

But politics isn’t as simple as our fights here, the hero’s identity is not a death exemption card either.

If you want to get things done, first learn to be smarter, slicker, protect yourself, and then you can help others, especially in our era, being physically strong is quite useless, bullets have no eyes; even I am afraid of guns held by ordinary people, let alone you..."

...

Usually, a few words would seem too verbose.

At the time of parting, suddenly words untold seemed to overflow.

Yet, friendships between men are mostly silent; false words a hundredfold don’t compare to a single sincere wish of safety.

Thirty minutes were too short, amid the sound of burning wood, the flicker of candlelight and the glimmer of shadows, the countdown approached its end.

Without wine, the three could only use water to replace wine, raising wooden bowls and drinking in a single gulp.

This bowl was a toast to their companionship, the hardships endured along the way, and themselves, for perseverance and unyielding spirit.

Under Chen Zhou’s gaze, a ball of blue light engulfed Paul and Bi Kai.

No sound, no wind, no electricity, it didn’t even stir the dust on the ground, and suddenly the two were gone.

Not long ago, there were three standing in the cave, now only Chen Zhou himself remained.

The Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger feared the suddenly appearing dazzling light and hid in a corner, while the cave became empty, though there were many candles, the lively atmosphere was lost.

The significance of companionship is not just relying on each other, but also combatting loneliness.

Even if they did nothing, just knowing they were there, the heart could settle much more.

Looking at the empty cave, Chen Zhou, who had just been standing straight, slumped down on a stool, let out a long sigh, for a moment, the whole person seemed somewhat disheartened.

...

Before Paul and Bi Kai left, he didn’t inform them he had not received notification, afraid of worrying them.

The fact was, everything was as he had guessed—

As an outsider, he enjoyed the privilege of not having to follow rules, but bore immense risks no ordinary person could, which was that the victor of the challenges would never be him, even when the challenge ended, he could not leave.

This prehistoric expanse, ten thousand years old, is his final resting place.

Howl~

Not knowing where the two members of its tribe had run off to, the puzzled Sanwa cautiously walked to where Paul disappeared, lowered its head to sniff the unchanged ground, and then let out a soft roar, as if questioning Chen Zhou.

Glancing around the cave now empty of people, Chen Zhou reached out to rub Sanwa’s big head, walked to the fire pit, and picked up the red box.

He no longer had a choice.

Either sign the contract, complete tasks in the new world for a chance to return home, or forever remain here.

Compared to the prehistoric expanse ten thousand years ago, Chen Zhou felt "Killing Demon Town" didn’t seem that hard to accept.

But before setting off, he had to ensure these three guys were settled, at least not letting them starve to death.

The challenge area had been ruled by minus sixty-five degrees of extreme cold and snowstorms for more than a month, now it was turned into a life desert, not to mention animals that could breathe, even plants went through a mass extinction, all frozen to death.

Leaving the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger here, with their hunting skills it was not easy, let alone the fact there’s nowhere to find live prey, without moving outside the challenge area, their only path was death.

Having fed these little fellows for so long, watching them grow from ten or so pounds to now all plump and strong, each over a hundred pounds, saying there’s no bond is false.

Now that the challenge is over, and the final winner has emerged, Chen Zhou felt everything should have an ending.

Though he had to leave, he couldn’t casually abandon the Saw-toothed Tigers.

Currently, the temperature was rapidly rising following the end of the challenge, soon returning to the normal winter temperatures of the Northern Territory; with his genetically modified body, even when exposed long-term, he wouldn’t freeze to death.

The original species of the Ice Age, the Saw-toothed Tigers, don’t even need to mention it, minus twenty or thirty degrees is nothing to them.

Chen Zhou estimated his position was not far from the southern boundary of the whole challenge area; bringing along the Saw-toothed Tigers would take one or two weeks tops to leave the challenge area.

Once in the area not affected by the extreme cold, the Saw-toothed Tigers could catch prey.

As for hunting skills, Chen Zhou thought even if the Saw-toothed Tigers’ performance was unsatisfactory, he could train them; intervene manually.

Besides improving the "three little ones’" independent hunting abilities, he also had to let them understand the threat of Primitive People.

On this prehistoric expanse, as long as they don’t voluntarily provoke the Primitive People, risk hunting Mammoths, Hairy Rhinoceroses, or other giant animals like Short-faced Bears, three adult male Saw-toothed Tigers are invincible.

Once they find mates and expand their tribe, except for natural laws such as birth, aging, sickness, and death, there won’t be much to worry about.

...

Having set the plan, Chen Zhou rested in the cave for a day, the next day he packed up tools and materials, preparing to set off.

He used accumulated firewood to build a huge cart, loaded it with fuels, food, and fur quilts needed for the journey, pulled it with ropes woven from fur, and took the three Saw-toothed Tigers down the mountain.

The past harsh cold was now gone, even midway up the mountain, it didn’t feel exceedingly cold anymore.

The Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger hadn’t been out for long, each bouncing and jumping, even the steady Sanwa also frolicked around excitedly.

Watching the little fellows happily running in the snow, Chen Zhou thought of the scene after their departure, inevitably feeling somewhat sentimental.

From the isolated island to here, from Lai Fu to Tiger First, Tiger Second, Sanwa, or Paul, Bi Kai, each time a challenge ends, it often means parting, even farewell.

The difference is some farewells are due to life and death, some are due to space and time.

...

The strong wind stopped, but the light gusts persist.

The snow white ground glittered, a bit of ice dust danced in the air.

The cart left a long trail mark from the hillside to the foot of the mountain, moving through the woods and leaving the Baihar Mountain Range, heading towards the grassland.

Accompanied by the trail marks were the footprints of the Saw-toothed Tigers, just like that, the group made up of one person and three beasts moved further away, heading for warmth, abundant food, and an unknown future, traveling southward within the region.

"Don’t mention these, I believe you’re indeed a true adventurer, also believe"

The snow white ground glittered, a bit of ice dust danced in the air.

The cart left a long trail mark from the hillside to the foot of the mountain, moving through the woods and leaving the Baihar Mountain Range, heading towards the grassland.

Accompanied by the trail marks were the footprints of the Saw-toothed Tigers, just like that, the group made up of one person and three beasts moved further away, heading for warmth, abundant food, and an unknown future, traveling southward within the region.