Trembling At A High Altitude

Li Teng glanced at Doctor Zhong, acknowledging that this woman was indeed commendable, with a big heart and a strong sense of responsibility.

In times like this, those who dared to step forward were true warriors, the kind who were brave and fearless, willing to sacrifice for their team, with a love for humanity in their hearts.

"I'll go. Although my character's grasp of the barbarian language isn't too good, practicing a few more times should make me clear enough. Anyway, I won't be living much longer," Li Teng coughed a few times before speaking up.

"No, I'll go," Doctor Zhong said firmly.

"Cough! A bunch of grown men, facing war, when a team faces annihilation and needs someone to step forward, and you let a weak woman and an old man nearing the end of his life take the lead. Aren't you ashamed? Stop arguing! I'll handle this!" Qiu Engineering waved his hands at everyone.

"No, I'll do it!" Wang Tongxun raised his hand, his face colored with embarrassment.

"I'll go!"

"I might as well do it!"

The others also voiced their willingness one after another.

Seeing this scene, Li Teng was indeed moved by them.

These seven people were all very young, probably aged between eighteen and twenty-two.

They had likely not been at Film and Television City for very long.

They hadn't yet learned to scheme and deceive each other in the ways of Film and Television City.

Not to put it too harshly, but they were still somewhat 'juvenile,' which actually meant their passion had not yet faded.

In real times of national distress, these would be the first ones to stand up.

Just like before Li Teng arrived at Film and Television City, when that disaster struck the whole nation.

At the crucial moment, it was these young people who bravely stood up, disregarding their safety, heading into the heart of disaster in that city, fought a life-and-death battle with the invisible enemy for three months, and saved over ten million citizens of that city, safeguarding the entire nation and ethnicity.

Many of them now lay in eternal rest in that city of heroes.

It's good to be young!

Li Teng found himself inexplicably filled with passion.

Unfortunately, he was no longer capable. Even with his high combat skills, without the boost from an Energy Drink, he could scarcely take down one or two barbarians, let alone a group. He might end up collapsing from exhaustion before being defeated by the enemy.

Spurred on by Doctor Zhong and Li Teng's leading example, and after Qiu Engineering's stirring words, the pride of everyone present was pricked, and each one of them was eager to volunteer.

"We're all going to die anyway, I can't die in such a useless way! Before I die, I want to take a few barbarian soldiers with me!" Mao Patrol shouted out loud.

Initially, Li Teng wasn't very fond of this person, thinking him impolite and selfish, but now, it appeared that when it truly mattered, he was ready to face the challenge.

"Exactly! Damn it! I'm going all out this time! If we can't even protect women and the elderly, do we even deserve to be called men?" Zheng Patrol also spoke up.

"They are many, and when we fight tomorrow, we shouldn't scatter. We need to stick together and focus on one or two at a time! Take them down one at a time, until they are scared," Xie Patrol shared his valuable life experience from his youth.

"Without weapons, we can pick some wood to use as weapons. Those pieces of wood seem pretty sturdy," Meng Patrol suggested as well.

In the end, it was decided that the six men, excluding Doctor Zhong and Li Teng, would go together.

They would advance and retreat together, sharing life and death.

Behind them was the sealed gorge.

There was no path of retreat, they could only engage in a fight to the death with the impending enemy.

"Let me teach you military salutes and how to march. I've had professional training in this area, and even though it's from an ancient time setting, I think our military salutes and marching would still be quite imposing," Wang Tongxun offered to everyone.

Before coming here, Wang Tongxun was a college student studying performing arts. He had spent three months in the military in preparation for a military play.

The others agreed it made sense, so they all braved the cold wind to go outside and let Wang Tongxun train them in military salutes and marching.

Li Teng also joined in the learning.

Everyone was very serious. After an hour of training, it really started to look the part.

"I learned combat techniques when I was young. I can teach you some of the most commonly used moves in close combat, ones that can incapacitate the enemy on the spot, stripping them of their ability to fight. When it really comes down to it, these can be quite useful," Li Teng also suggested to everyone.

At first, the others were somewhat skeptical.

But as Li Teng's training began and they exercised the moves he taught, feeling their effectiveness in the combat drills, no one doubted him anymore.

In just a day or two, it was impossible for them to master all these techniques. Without several years to develop the necessary muscle memory and conditioned reflexes, it was very difficult.

The essence of these close combat skills wasn't entirely in the movements themselves, but in the muscle memory that reacts faster than the brain. Only with a solid muscle memory can one avoid wasting time considering how to defend or attack in real combat.

The muscles must make conditioned responses before the brain does, in order to gain the upper hand in a life and death struggle, and this is also the key to victory in the face of an enemy.

Li Teng now had muscle memory, but lacked the muscle strength.

His spirit was willing, but his flesh was weak.

This could be a side effect of too many Energy Drinks. Without them, his body was even weaker than that of a regularly exercising peer of the same age.

He had started to feel the negative effects of Energy Drinks at the age of 65.

After each use, he would become exceptionally agitated, as if returning to his youth.

But as time went on, the side effects after consumption became worse. After 75, once the effects of the Energy Drink wore off, if he didn't take another dose immediately, he would collapse and be unable to stand or recover for a long time.

Now, after lying down, his body would always ache inexplicably, which might also be related to the Energy Drinks.

Even the Medical Pod couldn't cure this kind of pain.

Thinking of the Energy Drinks, Li Teng subconsciously glanced at his wristwatch again.

The apps in "Time Prison" were still in a grey, unusable state.

He wondered when Liu Shiyuan would be able to fix the scrapbook interface.

He longed to pick up that cleaver again, the War Blade that had followed him for decades, and go on a hearty rampage.

...

Night fell.

The raging winds that had been rampant all day were showing signs of calming down.

After arranging shifts for guard duty, everyone settled down to rest.

That night, no one slept very soundly.

From time to time, people would talk in their sleep, and some were startled awake with loud shouts.

Li Teng didn't sleep very well, either.

The older he got, the harder it became to sleep, especially when there were various noises around.

Then there was the pain in his body. Although he could endure it, it made falling asleep even more difficult.

By the time morning arrived, Li Teng felt extremely exhausted.

He looked at his wristwatch, the "Time Prison" app was still grey.

"Get up quick! The barbarian tribe soldiers are crossing the river!"

Mao Patrol, who was on sentry duty, suddenly burst into the barracks, waking up everyone.