Volume One, Chapter Five: A Safe Harbor

They slowly leapt over the grass, closing the distance to Ye Feng to less than ten meters.

The hungry wolves were fast; ten meters was merely the blink of an eye to them.

In other words, if Ye Feng moved now, both wolves would pounce immediately.

Ye Feng had only one chance to climb the tree—success was the only option; failure was not allowed.

Moreover, his speed had to be swift.

At that moment, the two women perched on the branches dared not make a sound, but the worry in their beautiful eyes was unmistakable.

Inside, Ye Feng’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

Yet, he did not hesitate. One of the women extended a hand. At that distance and height, Ye Feng gritted his teeth. The instant the two wolves began to move, he too sprang into action.

Fortunately, he managed to grasp the hands of the two women.

The moment he held onto them, the wolves had already reached the base of the tree.

With a slight exertion, aided by the women, Ye Feng climbed up onto the branches.

In that instant, not only did he breathe a sigh of relief, but the two women did as well.

The branch forked, splitting into two limbs on either side of the trunk.

He naturally moved toward Lin Yao’s side.

Lin Yao held onto the main trunk with both hands, and after Ye Feng climbed up, he did the same.

He placed his arm firmly on Lin Yao’s back—in truth, it was almost like embracing her, pressing close.

Since there was only space for one person to hold the trunk, he had to draw nearer.

The constant friction of their skin caused Lin Yao, who was trying to steady herself, to flush again.

Especially in their current position, Ye Feng was holding her tightly.

That sudden sense of security stirred a blush of shyness within her heart.

Ye Feng noticed this too. Breathing in the scent of Lin Yao’s body so closely, his breath quickened once more.

But just then, the howls of the two wolves below shattered their wandering thoughts.

Their eerie green eyes fixed directly on them.

Strong claws scraped against the tree trunk repeatedly.

The sound sent a shiver down their spines.

After lingering below for some time, the two wolves finally left.

After all, the forest held more prey than just the three of them.

Rather than stubbornly guarding this spot, it was better to search for other food.

“They’re gone. We should be safe for now,” Chen Jing whispered.

Despite being a girl, Chen Jing remained remarkably composed under such circumstances.

Her voice steady, without a tremor.

Lin Yao couldn’t help but glance at Chen Jing, her voice trembling, “Chen Jing, aren’t you scared?”

“At times like this, fear isn’t an option. If we want to survive, we must stay calm,” Chen Jing replied slowly.

Though she appeared fearless, deep down she was naturally terrified. None of them had faced such life-and-death situations before; anyone would be afraid.

“Ye Feng, you’re a guy, and an athlete. You have more ideas. What should we do next?” Chen Jing asked.

“Although the tree keeps the wolves at bay, it’s not truly safe. Besides, it’s going to rain soon. We need to find shelter to get through the night,” Ye Feng swallowed hard. Though still somewhat afraid, the pressure on him suddenly became immense.

The two women said nothing but silently agreed.

The three stayed in the tree a while longer, only descending when thunder rumbled.

Ultimately, they chose to try their luck on the beach.

Under the faint moonlight, the scattered corpses covering the ground sent chills down their spines.

Lin Yao, walking behind Ye Feng, stepped forward and clutched his arm tightly.

To be precise, she embraced him—and held on tightly—which left Ye Feng’s mouth dry.

Lin Yao was terrified of the corpses before her and barely noticed this.

She trembled all over, consumed by fear.

Ye Feng was her safest refuge.

On the other side, though Chen Jing did not grab him, her anxious face betrayed deep fear.

Though she didn’t hold onto him, her body leaned close, her subtle touch brushing against his clothing.

In the past, after dating for years, Ye Feng had never even kissed a girlfriend.

Now, though not exactly surrounded on both sides, he was flanked by two beautiful women.

Suddenly, Ye Feng stopped.

“Ye... Ye Feng, what’s wrong? Why did you stop?” Lin Yao’s body shuddered violently.

The studious Chen Jing didn’t expect him to halt and collided into him, losing her balance.

Already off balance, Chen Jing began to fall toward the ground.

The beach was one thing, but the direction she was falling toward held a female corpse.

In that instant, Ye Feng immediately stretched out his other hand and caught Chen Jing.

Suddenly exerting force, Chen Jing’s petite body was pulled uncontrollably toward him.

The embrace on both sides—he had finally achieved it.

“There must be many other survivors. We are few and weak here. On this deserted island, without any constraints, anything can happen.”

“So, for safety—and for your own sake—it’s best to wear an extra layer considering the unpredictable weather,” Ye Feng said.

Reluctantly, he released the two women and knelt beside the corpse of a woman in her thirties.

Suppressing his own fear, he removed the woman’s jeans and jacket, handing them to Lin Yao.

Though a little hesitant, Lin Yao understood the gravity of their situation and took the clothes without question.

She didn’t remove her swimsuit but put the clothing over it.

Fortune seemed to favor them. After walking along the beach for some time, near a thicket, they found a narrow cave.

Small as it was, it could accommodate all three of them.

If more joined, it would be cramped.

They were already somewhat weary; this would be their resting place for the night.

At least it would keep them dry.

Ye Feng entered first, using a lighter to quickly inspect the cave.

He found plenty of dry wood, which brought him some relief.

Soon, the fire was lit.

The three of them leaned closely against the cave’s inner wall.

As the fire rose, their hearts finally eased.

From the shipwreck until now, their nerves had been taut without rest.

Time and again, they had faced life and death—experiences unimaginable for a lifetime.

Just as they kindled the fire, the rain began to pour outside.

The rain, so near, filled them with gratitude.

Especially when they heard faint, distant screams from the forest.

They were undoubtedly fortunate.

“Finally, we can relax a bit,” Chen Jing breathed softly.

The rise and fall of her chest made Ye Feng feel even more parched.