âIâm going to look around for some dry firewood. We need to start a fire; otherwise, the temperature in the dense forest will drop sharply when night falls. Itâs going to get very cold.â
Wesley said so, then proceeded to unload the tent he had been carrying with him.
âI have four tents here. Letâs set them up together.â
Upon hearing this, the members of the Cox family immediately came over to help.
Neera was a bit worried. âAre you sure itâs okay to go alone? Maybe we should get a couple more people to go with you.â
Wesley declined, âItâs okay. Everyone is getting ready to find a place to rest at this time, and I wonât go far. There wonât be any danger. Please rest assured, Miss.â
Before long, he had left.
Shane helped set up the tents and asked, âNeera, are you okay with staying in a tent by yourself?â
Among those present, she was the only woman. Neera had no objections and asked naturally, âAlright, what about you guys?â
âWeâre all grown men here, so no worries. Weâll split a tent among the three of us, and each of us will take turns standing guard, specifically at the entrance of your tent. You can rest easy at night and get a good nightâs sleep.â
Neera felt somewhat embarrassed by their attentive care. âPerhaps, I should join you in guarding the place tonight.â
-Shane raised an eyebrow, âWith so many grown men around, thereâs no need for a young lady like you to stand guard. Donât worry about it too much. Just get some rest is whatâs really important.â
After a day of hustle and bustle, Neera was indeed exhausted and no longer insisted on staying up.
âThank you for taking care of me. Once Iâve rested well, Iâll get up early to cook for all of you.â
Shane chuckled. âWell then, I wonder if youâre up for it now, but could you help make some oatmeal? It would be nice for everyone to have something warm to drink, to heat up their bodies.â
Neera smiled slightly. âThatâs easy enough. Leave it to me when Wesley returns.â
In no time, the light in the dense forest dimmed even more, almost to the point where one could not see their hand in front of their face.
At that moment, Wesley returned carrying a bundle of dry branches.
Everyone gathered around to help light the fire.
Soon, a fire was kindled and a pot was set up.
Neera watched this scene, and the tension that had gripped her all day suddenly eased quite a bit.
âI really didnât expect you guys to bring so much stuff. Now we look like weâre on a jungle expedition.â
Finnley sat on a large rock, stroking his beard with a cheerful smile.
11:29 Wed, 8 Nov 1%
âSounds about right. We must be fully prepared before we venture into this dense forest. Who knows how many days and nights we might end up trapped here. Naturally, we should make our stay as comfortable as possible.â
Neera couldnât help but chuckle, thinking to herself. They really are accustomed to a life of privilege, always seeking enjoyment wherever they are.
At that moment, Wesley came over and shared with them what he had discovered when he was out collecting tree branches.
âThe Medicina family has also set up camp nearby. It is just five hundred meters ahead.â
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze towards the distance, and sure enough, they saw sporadic flickers of light.
âIs it okay that they are so close to us?â one of the Cox family members asked with a hint of worry.
Neera gazed thoughtfully in that direction. âIt should be fine. For now, I still have quite a bit of faith in Mr. Medicina.â
Shane also said, âIf the Medicina family really wanted to harm us, they wouldnât have helped us back in the swamp. They could have gotten rid of us then, so there was no need to wait until now.â
That was easier said than done. The Cox family members were unfamiliar with the Medicina family, so they couldnât let their guard down naturally. Thus, they remained on high alert at all times.
After finishing her meal, Neera stood up to clean up, but was stopped by Finnley.
âNeera, let them handle those tasks. You take a break and get ready for training.â
Neera let out a surprised âEhâ, âTraining? Do we need to train even here?â
Finnleyâs eyes widened in surprise. âOf course! Did you think you could do as you please while training under me? Once youâve started, you canât just quit halfway!â
Neera swallowed hard, taking in the oppressive darkness that surrounded her.
âBut⦠where should I start practicing? Everything around me is dark nowâ¦â
Finnley waved his hand. âDonât be so nervous. It is fine right here. Itâs not like Iâm teaching you some extraordinary. kung fu. Just keep practicing the darts. Look, Iâve brought all the stuff for you.â
As he spoke, he rummaged through his bag, pulling out a bunch of darts.
Upon seeing this, Neera was completely dumbfounded.
âMy dear elder, you truly are dedicated. You didnât forget to carry these darts with you even in this situationâ¦â
Finnley hummed in agreement, âOf course, and these darts can not only help you train, but also serve as weapons. Itâs a win-win situation, so why not?â
After he finished speaking, he pointed to a nearby tree to explain the training requirements.
âAlright, thatâs enough chit-chat. You see that tree over there? Throw your dart at it. See that hole in the trunk? Only if you get your dart in there will it count as a success!â
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