Chapter 71

Page Twenty-One “Path of the Brave”

“Big brother, slow down~ Don’t be so hasty~ It’s too hot~ This won’t work! It’s too big!”

Completely ignoring Orange’s sister’s plea, I let out a beast-like roar and indulged in the most primitive human desire—hunger.

“Meat! Grilled meat!… Ugh! Too hot!”

Naturally, stuffing my mouth with grilled meat resulted in choking, not only choking but also burning my tongue.

“I told you to cut that large piece of beef before eating it.”

Orange complained, handing me a cup of soda. I gulped it down.

“Chairman, your sacrifice saved my stomach. If you need help in the future, I will go through fire and water for you.”

Zhao Zhao, who looked greasy from eating his fill, approached me and solemnly said something about brotherhood vows. I almost wanted to slice him up and roast him to medium-rare, but I guessed his meat wouldn’t be edible.

“Move aside! You’re blocking me!”

Once everyone was full, I could finally start grilling my own portion.

Because breakfast was late, I might not have eaten so much, but after experiencing the agony of watching others eat, my stomach acids had already digested everything.

Xiao Hai Tang praised this as “hunger marketing.”

“Chairman, grill this.” Xiao Hai Tang disappeared for a while and brought back a large platter of beef.

Just a glance told me this beef was special!

The white fat was evenly distributed like frost, thick and juicy, with fresh red and glossy color.

“High-grade marbled beef, a reward for you.”

I couldn’t believe such expensive beef was bought just for me. All grievances vanished.

“Praise Lord Xiao Hai Tang!”

The barbecue lasted over an hour. By the time we left the cave camp at one-thirty in the afternoon, there was still more time in the afternoon than in the morning. To make up for the morning’s disappointment, I planned to explore thoroughly in the afternoon.

Since my cute Orange sister was bound to me, the group arrangements changed in the afternoon.

Xiao Hai Tang didn’t want to move with us. She went with Yang Qi to find Xiao Cangyu, who was lifeless due to the game console running out of power, planning to search for Bei Qiaojue while playing facilities.

Feng Wu wanted to join them but was glared back by Xiao Hai Tang. The girls’ group didn’t want an unkempt man trailing behind.

Feng Wu sat back on the recliner disappointedly. Yan Liu Zuan patted his shoulder and joined him.

These two rather reserved men, were they going to stay here all afternoon?

Tan Lin Hua hesitated between me and Yan Liu Zuan but decided to go with me. I didn’t expect Zhao Zhao to follow.

“Surprised, why aren’t you sneaking around in the deep water area?”

“What do you mean sneaking? That’s called covert observation! I ate too much at noon, swimming now might make me throw up.”

In response to Zhao Zhao’s meaningless defense, Orange snorted disdainfully and dodged to my other side.

Facing such open contempt, Zhao Zhao scratched his head awkwardly and whispered to me.

“Chairman, am I disliked by Little Orange?”

“You only noticed now? She disliked you even when she was a cat.”

“I think she dislikes me even more now.”

Because Xiao Hai Tang took Orange from the west side of the artificial beach in the morning, to avoid her wanting to skip played attractions, we went eastward in the afternoon.

Zhao Zhao’s deep water pool was to the east, where the facilities were more challenging and competitive.

For example, the Path of the Brave, a water obstacle course similar to those seen on TV, with ten floating platforms high above the water, connected by various mechanisms, leading to the end.

The Water World operators set up a prize worth 500 shopping cards at the finish line, showing great confidence in the difficulty of the course.

“Let’s try that?”

“Chairman, are you still daring to play such projects?”

“Money can move mountains. What if we pass?”

Being transparent, we could observe the mechanism’s patterns while queuing.

Though there were dozens ahead, the queue moved quickly… because all previous tourists fell before the fourth platform.

Orange, our first player, as a cat girl, her tail provided excellent balance, easily passing the fourth stage. However, the fifth platform was a trap; stepping on it made the entire platform tilt 90 degrees vertically, and she fell into the water unexpectedly.

Secondly, I, the protagonist, fell into the water on the rolling logs in the second stage.

Though embarrassing, it was expected. My physical condition was terrible. I climbed ashore to meet Orange.

Third was our ace, Zhao Zhao.

Such projects weren’t a problem for a mountain gorilla.

Zhao Zhao’s muscles were from real training, not protein powder. His stability and flexibility were excellent.

Even if he didn’t reach the end, getting through seven stages shouldn’t be a problem.

But in the third stage, the pendulum, his brain seemed blocked by the grilled meat’s oil. He shouted, “It’s just a stone, I’ll push it back with a Gundam!” and tried to resist the pendulum’s force.

Predictably, he became a meteor falling into the water.

“Why are you messing around? Move!”

“If the platform wasn’t so slippery, I would have stopped it.”

“No, what are you stopping it for?”

Unexpectedly, Tan Lin Hua reached the seventh stage, which had no platforms but a single bar. She needed to swing like a monkey.

She failed due to insufficient arm strength, falling into the water… a pity.

“Lin Hua, impressive. I didn’t know you were so fit.”

“Not bad, just not strong enough. I don’t want muscles.”

Despite her modesty, Tan Lin Hua seemed pleased, perhaps surprised herself.

Bodybuilding believer Zhao Zhao defended muscles.

“Why hate muscles! Muscles are great! Muscles never betray your effort. With consistent exercise, muscle gods will respond to your expectations!”

Orange snapped at Zhao Zhao, “Muscles, muscles, it’s annoying! What’s the use of a weakling who falls off the water in the third stage?”

Wait… falling in the third stage makes one a weakling…?

My cute Orange, did you consider that Big Brother fell in the second stage?

Finding others’ misfortunes amusing, we watched subsequent challengers. Most couldn’t get past the third stage, “weaklings,” just as we were about to leave…

That woman appeared.

Xiao Hai Tang’s bounty target, Bei Qiaojue, who flirted everywhere despite being a girl, missed the barbecue.

“It’s Sister Qiaojue! She can definitely reach the end!”

Orange excitedly waved to Bei Qiaojue outside the field. She noticed us, waved back, and flashed a bright smile.

Blinding, the light of the harem leader!

Bei Qiaojue ripped off her shirt, threw it to her companions, revealing her athletic figure in a black bikini.

Perhaps impressed by Bei Qiaojue’s physique, Tan Lin Hua muttered, “Looks like having some muscle isn’t so bad.”

Bending down, stretching her legs, Bei Qiaojue warmed up at the starting point. Her playful smile turned serious.

She agilely jumped over hurdles, rolled over logs, dodged pendulums, and crawled across flipping platforms… effortlessly reaching the ninth stage.

Impressive, way better than me, the protagonist.

The final stage at the finish line required climbing a steep slope under high-pressure water jets, with only a rope as support.

A pure test of physical ability and perseverance.

Maintaining her cool, Bei Qiaojue now struggled, her face red, teeth clenched, slowly climbing. The higher she went, the stronger the water jet became.

Despite many spectators and queue-goers, silence prevailed. Everyone watched the short-haired girl, afraid to disturb her.

Only the sound of swallowing saliva was heard, mine.

Bei Qiaojue eventually overcame the jet, climbed to the peak, and collapsed on the ground, exhausted.

The crowd cheered, welcoming the hero who defeated the demon king.

As the first tourist to complete the challenge in days, Bei Qiaojue received a special gift, a 5000 shopping card.

Only one person succeeded in days, showing the difficulty of the course. Falling in the second stage wasn’t so embarrassing.

After receiving the prize, Bei Qiaojue walked towards us with two girls.

“Sister Qiaojue is amazing!”

Orange affectionately hugged Bei Qiaojue, who seemed comfortable with the gesture, returning the embrace.

“Little Orange reached the fourth stage. I saw it, very hardworking.”

I saw Orange’s tail wagging excitedly… this playboy, is he trying to take my Orange sister?

Bei Qiaojue leaned close, pinched my arm, pressed my belly, and touched my chin.

“Are you teasing a cat?” I turned my head, displeased.

“Chang Kai’s body is too weak. Better exercise more.”

“I know, can you stop calling me Chang Kai?”

“Then Ling Meng?”

“…”

Seeing me speechless, Bei Qiaojue seemed happier, ruffling my head like a cool big sister… even though she’s younger?

“But the last stage was really tense~”

She recalled, trembling.

“The water pressure was too strong, almost stripping off my swimsuit.”

…

Is it too late to switch timelines now?