Chapter 48: Coping with the Downpour
Rainproof facilities.
It's actually just a very simple makeshift shelter.
Chen Wen divided the felled tree into four parts, dug four pits around the campfire, and buried the divided logs to serve as pillars.
Next, he used the rope he had previously woven to tie relatively large branches between the four pillars.
Finally, he built a framework on the branches with sticks and laid a layer of agave leaves on top.
The simple shack was completed.
At the same time, to collect rainwater, Chen Wen also took out his sleeping bag and draped it over the top of the shelter.
This way, it could collect rainwater and enhance the shelter's waterproof capability.
As for Chen Wen's own shelter, it was also laid with some agave leaves.
By the afternoon, the camp's waterproofing was completely finished, and the firewood was fully stocked.
Chen Wen checked the traps again and trained the crested hawk.
By the time he returned, it had started to drizzle from the sky.
Chen Wen called the bobcat family in the valley to join him in his new shelter from the rain.
The rain was getting heavier, and Chen Wen realized it was time to test his efforts.
Could the things he worked on all day withstand this rain?
With the sound of crackling, some areas of the shelter started leaking.
Chen Wen used the rabbit hides he had accumulated over the past days, along with the remaining coyote and sheepskins, to cover the leaking areas on the outside.
The effect was immediate.
The shelter no longer leaked.
And Chen Wen also promptly collected water, keeping the rainproof shelter safe as well.
"Perfect!"
Seeing that his efforts weren't wasted, Chen Wen lay comfortably on the ground.
The bobcat family warmed themselves by the campfire, sheltering from the rain, while the crested hawk watched them from its nest, seemingly judging whether they were edible.
The wren family hid in their newly built nest, chirping away.
The barn owl, startled awake by the heavy rain, sat dazed on the open ground inside the shelter.
In short, the outside hubbub had no effect on Chen Wen and his animal companions.
A large group of different species, even natural enemies, quietly sheltered from the rain in the shelter.
It was very harmonious.
...
This scene attracted many assistants to gather around.
"He's really a Druid!"
The assistant from the United Kingdom was captivated: "I must learn from Chen Wen how to become a Druid!"
"No, no, no, he's not a Druid."
An assistant with a half-baked understanding of Hua Country culture said: "I've read many Hua Country novels, and there's a sect called the Beast Taming Sect!"
"He must be a descendant of the Beast Taming Sect!"
Another assistant gave a thumbs up: "Makes sense!"
Unlike these assistants of eliminated contestants.
Adam's assistants focused on other matters.
"This heavy rain severely delayed Adam and the others' progress!"
Hei's face was as dark as could be.
Today, Adam and the others had planned to traverse the plains, but upon seeing the weather, they decided to turn back.
Roland's wife was also frowning.
Roland intended to go east today, but the rain made him abandon that idea.
Roland was currently soaked in the rain, heading further west looking for a cave to take shelter.
Compared to Chen Wen, the experiences of the other players were worlds apart.
Roland was the worst off.
Gaston was hiding in his shelter, where it rained heavily outside and drizzled inside.
But Gaston had no solution.
Gina's shelter was slightly better but not by much.
She wasn't even staying in her shelter; she had crawled into Adam's shelter.
Adam's shelter was almost the same as Chen Wen's.
The only flaw was that Gina's presence made it smaller, and the fire went out.
This left Adam quite helpless.
However, the only comforting thing was that with Gina around, the shelter's temperature didn't drop.
...
The rain lasted for a full two days and nights.
It didn't stop until the evening of the twenty-second day.
By then, the conditions of the contestants had drastically changed compared to two days ago.
The once unstoppable trio suffered a severe setback due to the natural disaster.
Adam and Gina caught colds, constantly sniffling and sneezing.
Gaston was better off; regular exercise gave him a stronger immunity.
But as the heavy rain washed over, a landslide occurred where Gaston had settled.
If he hadn't gotten up to pee in the night, he might have been buried alive.
Only now did everyone realize how forward-thinking Chen Wen was to place his shelter on the ridge.
As for Roland, he was the most miserable.
He started running a low fever by the afternoon of the twenty-first day.
And his condition was worsening.
Besides Chen Wen, everyone was caught off guard by the heavy rain.
Including Adam, none of them anticipated such a downpour at the end of the rainy season.
Compared to the miserable few.
Chen Wen was purely enjoying himself those two days.
At least that's what the assistants thought.
The rain didn't set Chen Wen back; instead, it provided him with fresh water.
Those two days, Chen Wen collected a whole pot and a kettle of water.
If he had more storage containers, he could have collected even more.
Chen Wen's shelter also withstood the test.
The shelter stood tall against the wind and rain, providing optimal protection for Chen Wen and his animal friends.
More impressively, thanks to Chen Wen's foresight to rainproof the fire and stockpile dry wood.
The fire never went out.
Everything he ate was hot, and he kept warm.
Chen Wen had no risk of catching a cold.
"Amazing!"
Lin Jiawei was the happiest during those two days.
The originally dire situation was completely revived by a bout of rain.
Now Roland was struggling alone, and Adam's trio was finding it hard to move forward.
If this continued, wouldn't Chen Wen win the championship effortlessly?
Even the show team didn't expect the heavy rain to bring such a big change.
If nothing unforeseen happens, this Asian kid is likely to win the championship!
This sentiment was already circulating among the show's staff.
...
But unexpectedly for everyone.
Adam didn't sit idly by.
Before his cold worsened, Adam decided to make a desperate move.
"If we keep delaying, both Gina and I will lose the ability to continue surviving due to our colds."
Adam's voice was nasal, but his eyes were sharp.
Gaston wasn't one to play fair.
He was already thinking of challenging Adam and Gina, but he wouldn't show it until they weakened.
Adam glanced at Gaston and continued, "While Gina and I aren't seriously ill yet, we need to cross the plains and eliminate the others!"
"We're not sure about the others' conditions for now."
"But the mountains over there are continuous, and once someone finds a cave to shelter in, they can live comfortably, or even come for us!"
"At that time, sick Gina and I would be useless, Gaston, do you have the confidence to face Roland or Chen Wen, or even both together?"
Gaston shook his head decisively.
"So, while we still have our combat power, we cross the plains and eliminate everyone we encounter!"
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