Let's put aside the matters on the women's island for now.
Over to Chen Wen.
After getting some sleep, he felt much better.
"What should I do this afternoon?"
Sitting in front of the fire, Chen Wen tended to the flames as thoughts raced through his mind.
Should he continue foraging by the sea for food and gather some supplies?
Or perhaps explore the surrounding area?
Or prepare signals for rescue?
But after pondering for a long time, Chen Wen couldn't think of anything urgently necessary to do.
"Food isn't pressing, there's still some left; I can continue gathering by the sea tomorrow noon. As for exploring, it's not worth the physical effort now; and the rescue signals, they're already here."
Chen Wen looked at the pile of coconut shells and greenish branches beside him.
If someone conducted a search and rescue operation, piling these onto the fire would surely produce bold smoke.
"Why not go get some coconuts?"
Looking at the coconut shells, Chen Wen suddenly thought.
Water is the source of life. On a tropical deserted island, survival without water is impossible.
Though Chen Wen had some cola, it was no match for freshwater.
Picking some coconuts was a way to replenish the water supply.
Chen Wen made up his mind.
...
Meanwhile, on another part of the island.
"While exploring the woods, we found a large coconut grove on the northwest beach."
A member of the men's exploration team reported their discovery, "We haven't found freshwater yet, but those coconuts should last us a long time."
After some discussion, the men's team unanimously decided to pick coconuts.
Three stayed behind, and the remaining seven headed to the coconut grove.
...
Back to Chen Wen.
After adding some fuel to the fire, he packed his suitcase and started dragging it towards the coconut grove.
Chen Wen's landing spot was on the northern beach of the island, slightly to the east.
The coconut grove he found was in the southwest direction.
This was a very large coconut grove, covering nearly the entire northwest part of the island.
Chen Wen decided against going too deep into it.
He opted to traverse through the island's jungle and pick coconuts from the grove's edge.
Before entering the jungle, Chen Wen found a straight stick to use as a walking stick.
On such a densely vegetated tropical island, a walking stick is an essential tool for navigating the jungle.
Once ready, Chen Wen began his journey into the jungle.
But after just a few steps, Chen Wen's expression changed slightly.
"Mosquitoes."
As Chen Wen passed by a shrub, a large swarm of mosquitoes was stirred awake.
They buzzed loudly, swarming like a cloud.
"Ugh... ptooey!"
Chen Wen spat out a mosquito that had flown into his mouth and promptly closed it.
He had forgotten about the mosquitoes.
Chen Wen thought to himself.
The jungle on a tropical island is humid and warm.
It's a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
There was a simple way to avoid contact with them.
But Chen Wen wasn't really keen on doing so.
Perhaps he should take a detour?
He contemplated, planning an alternative route in his mind.
But soon, Chen Wen abandoned the idea of taking a detour.
Detouring would mean a much longer journey and passing through the northwest cape of the island.
With uncertainty about when rescue would arrive, Chen Wen knew he had to conserve his energy.
"I'll have to use that method!"
Resolute, Chen Wen searched the area.
A moment later, amidst the buzzing sound.
Chen Wen arrived at a soft muddy area.
He grimaced as he scooped up a handful of blackened mud.
After mentally preparing himself, Chen Wen smeared it onto his bare arms.
"Ugh~"
Chen Wen couldn't help but retch.
The musty smell of the deposited mud filled his nostrils.
Truly, this muddy patch is too moldy!
Chen Wen made light of his plight, quickly covering his exposed skin with mud.
Soon enough.
Chen Wen—primal version, officially online.
Covered in mud, Chen Wen sped up his pace.
A mosquito landed on Chen Wen.
It could smell the tantalizing scent.
Its instincts told it to climb up, extend its proboscis, and draw out nourishment.
Doing so would provide the energy it needed for reproduction.
But just when it extended its proboscis, like a skilled surgeon, and tried to penetrate the skin.
The thick mud silently blocked it.
Mosquito: Damn! The mud's walking now!
Watching the mosquito fly away as if it encountered a ghost, Chen Wen chuckled.
"I told you watching documentaries had perks, see, didn't they come in handy?"
Chen Wen once saw a documentary about tribes in the Amazon Rainforest.
The people there covered themselves in mud to ward off mosquito bites.
They sometimes even painted strange designs on their bodies.
He remembered this from way back then.
Who knew it would actually come in handy?
Having overcome the mosquitoes, Chen Wen quickened his pace.
...
South of the coconut grove.
The seven members of the men's team trudged through swarms of mosquitoes.
"So many mosquitoes!"
Someone frowned, covering their mouth and nose to prevent mosquitoes from flying in.
"Just bear with it. If it's too much, take off your shirt and cover your head."
Someone suggested.
"Isn't there any other way?"
One couldn't help but ask, but only silence answered him.
Survival is so damn hard!
Everyone thought to themselves.
...
The women's group.
Hua Yun, along with two others who chose to follow her, formally left the group.
Thus, the women's group split into two.
After determining the island's geography, Hua Yun led the two to the island's southwest side.
"Let's settle here in this clearing. You two gather some firewood, and we'll start a fire later. I'll go find some food."
After assigning tasks, Hua Yun, with her Recurve Bow, headed into the forest.
...
Back to Chen Wen.
He arrived beneath a coconut tree.
"It's so tall!"
Chen Wen squinted up at the coconuts above.
A quick glance told him that the coconut trees on this island were about fifteen meters tall on average.
Which meant if he wanted fresh coconuts, Chen Wen would have to climb four or five stories high.
Chen Wen could climb trees.
But it was his first time climbing one this tall.
Maybe he should try throwing stones to knock some down?
Chen Wen lowered his head to look for stones on the ground.
But soon enough, he made a discovery under the coconut trees.
"Were these coconuts blown down by the wind?"
Chen Wen picked up a coconut and shook it by his ear a couple of times.
There was water!
His face lit up; if these coconuts were drinkable, he wouldn't need to climb the tree.
Chen Wen found a rock with a sharp edge and started banging the coconut onto it.
After a few metallic clangs, the hard shell of the coconut dented.
Chen Wen took out his Swiss army knife and chiseled around the dent a few times.
Soon, he had opened a small hole in the coconut shell.
Chen Wen brought the small opening to his lips and tilted his head back to drink.
But before the coconut water reached his mouth, Chen Wen noticed something was off.
A sour, foot-like stench filled his nostrils.
"What the heck is this smell?"
Chen Wen grimaced and tossed the coconut aside.
The yellowish coconut water dripped from the small opening.
"It's spoiled! Damn!"
Chen Wen shook his head in disappointment.
"It seems most coconuts on the ground are spoiled and can't be consumed due to the risk of diarrhea."
"I remember a documentary mentioning the importance of avoiding any risk of diarrhea in the wild because it could lead to weakness or even dehydration; the ones on the ground are undrinkable!"
"If I want fresh coconut water, I'll have to climb the tree!"
...
South of the coconut grove.
After a long trek, the seven men overcame the mosquitoes and reached their destination.
"So many coconuts!"
A member from the mainland was pleasantly surprised.
Someone found coconuts at the base of a tree and excitedly picked them up.
Since landing on the island, they hadn't had any water to drink.
Now that they had a water source, everyone eagerly cracked open the coconuts.