It was noon.
The weather today was excellent, with the sun high above everyone's heads, like a wheel of fire, making people feel uneasy.
The men's group felt exactly like this.
In the morning, while they were conducting their survival smoothly.
The production team sent a batch of weapons and a message.
"There is a black panther in the jungle. You can choose to use these weapons to hunt it. If successful, everything, including the black panther, will belong to you."
Wang Zhi read out the message on the note.
Around the bonfire, everyone looked at each other in disbelief.
"The production team isn't joking, right?"
Yan Bian asked straightforwardly, "If it's not a joke, I think they've gone mad!"
"Us? Hunt a black panther?"
Lu Heng was shocked, "Hey, hey! We're human, not superheroes! Damn it, I'm leaving! Just thinking about how I almost faced a black panther last time makes my legs shake!"
Lu Heng was talking about last time when they were warned by the production team before entering the jungle.
He imagined everything except the production team releasing a predator in the jungle!
Bai Yachuan's face was pale, "I want to quit! I'm not playing anymore!"
[I feel like the production team has gone too far. How could modern people hunt a black panther?]
[Maybe it's fine for primitive tribes in Africa that rely on hunting to survive, but these guys are totally not suited for it!]
[I'm scared just hearing about it through the screen, let alone being with the black panther.]
[This production team is reckless with human lives! Crush them!]
[I'm wondering now, is there a black panther over on the women's side too?]
[Haha, if anyone nowadays can successfully hunt a black panther, I'll live-stream eating an Oreo!]
[Classic scam for food and drink]
...
Not just the contestants, even the netizens found it hard to believe.
A black panther?
Sending ten people with no hunting experience to hunt it?
In the jungle area?
What a joke!
Over by Xiao Yong.
He kept negotiating with the contestants, following the director's instructions.
Offering more money!
From ancient times, wealth has always tempted people's hearts.
Before long, someone started to waver.
"I think it might be possible."
Du Feng's eyes sparkled, "It's a panther, not a big animal like a tiger or a bear. Panthers are small, just ordinary big cats!"
"That's not wrong. I've seen cheetahs in Africa before, and they're really not big. Even big Alaskan dogs are bigger than panthers."
The speaker was the plump Lv Guocheng, who was also quite interested in hunting the black panther.
"I think if it's really not big, we can give it a try."
Zhang Hu, who was also bold, picked up the iron spear provided by the production team and twirled it a couple of times, "If we're going after that beast, I'll take the lead."
The men's group split into two factions, arguing endlessly.
At this moment, the usually silent Ding Decai saw his opportunity.
He sneered and said, "If you're afraid of dying, don't come to survive!"
That one sentence drew everyone's eyes to him.
Ding Decai continued with satisfaction, "Do you think the production team would release a wild black panther for us to hunt?"
"That's outright illegal!"
"So, I think this black panther must be a domesticated pet panther, similar to a big dog. Such things I could've kicked to death when I was younger!"
"Besides, if we hunt, all these weapons will be ours—what can't we solve with that?"
"I say, the scared ones should stay at the camp, and the brave ones come with me! Let's go into the woods and get that beast!"
Saying that he specifically glanced at the defiant Lu Heng.
Prodded by Ding Decai, Lu Heng couldn't sit still, "Why are you looking at me like that! I dare to go!"
The others who initially opposed the idea also started to reconsider.
Seeing this, Wang Zhi quietly shook his head.
This is how it is with many people.
"Then let's go! But we have to make a solid plan!"
In the end, the men's group set their sights on the goal of hunting the black panther.
...
Over by Chen Wen.
He was fiddling with his makeshift periscope.
He made it from a plastic bottle and some leftover string.
It fit perfectly over his head.
"Into the sea, into the sea!"
Wearing pink size 48 slippers, Chen Wen walked briskly toward the reef area.
He didn't glance at the seafood along the way.
After all, it was the lowest tide, and if he missed it, he'd have to wait until tomorrow.
After a short while, Chen Wen reached the edge of the sea.
He gazed at the ocean from afar, observing the situation around the coral reef.
"For now, it looks shark-free, very calm."
Chen Wen evaluated whether there were sharks based on the method taught by the oldest fisherman on the boat, who was also the second mate.
He had shared with Chen Wen a saying.
Look at the fin, watch the trail, and see if the bird crowd is calm.
"Fin" refers to the dorsal fin.
The dorsal fin of a shark is a very obvious marker.
Many movies use the shark's dorsal fin to create a terrifying atmosphere.
In reality, this method is also effective.
But it's too unilateral.
Therefore, you move to the second step: watch the trail.
"Trail" refers to traces.
Whether it's the water trail left by a shark wagging its tail on the sea's surface or the splash when a shark hunts.
Even sharks jumping out to catch fish.
These all count as "trail."
This method can nearly identify most dangerous sharks.
The first two methods target sharks on the surface; if sharks are lurking at the bottom.
Then use the third method.
See if the bird crowd is calm.
This means observing the behavior of seabirds.
On one hand, when sharks drive fish schools in the water, many seabirds will circle above.
Taking advantage of the sharks' disruption, they dive down to see if they can catch anything to eat.
On the other hand, some aggressive sharks will eat seabirds.
If seabirds are constantly circling above the water or quickly fly away.
Then it suggests a shark that can threaten them is underwater.
The old fisherman told Chen Wen that by mastering these three methods, you are ninety-nine percent unlikely to encounter sharks.
As for the remaining one percent, it's left to those sharks with unpredictable behavior.
Like the bull shark.
In his youth, the old fisherman was once attacked by such a shark.
At that time, the sea was calm, and birds were circling.
It didn't seem like a shark was present at all.
However, when the old fisherman was hauling in the nets, an adult bull shark attacked him.
Leaving an indelible scar on his right leg.
Since that incident, the old fisherman no longer claimed his method was one hundred percent effective.
And he stopped going out to sea alone, choosing to join a fleet instead.
Chen Wen normally listened to these stories as tales.
But he didn't expect a day would come when he'd have to use them.
After warming up, Chen Wen glanced again at the water surface and bird crowd.
The sea was calm, and the seabirds flew leisurely over the coral reef.
Occasionally diving down to peck at something.
Seeing this, Chen Wen was completely at ease.
He checked his net bag, weapon, and goggles.
Dived into the water in one swift motion.
Under the effect of the entry [Proficient Swimmer].
Already good at swimming, Chen Wen seemed to turn into a fish.
Gracefully navigating the waters with the current.
Chen Wen himself sensed the difference.
If he used to swim by moving with the sea, now he felt as though he became a part of the ocean.
Comfortable!
Chen Wen thought to himself gleefully, while speeding up his swimming.
After all, the delicacies within the coral reefs were waiting for him!