Chapter 4: The First Exploration
Chapter 4: The First Exploration
The next morning.
Gao Jing rode his beat-up motorcycle to Pude Road in the southern part of Yuncheng.
In recent years, tourism within the country had boomed. More people traveled by car or on foot, naturally fueling growth in related industries.
Pude Road used to have only two or three outdoor shops. Now almost half the street was filled with stores of the same kind.
Yuncheng itself was a major tourist city, surrounded by plenty of scenic spots.
Gao Jing parked his motorcycle outside the “Wilderness Hunter” outdoor store.
He entered the shop and greeted a middle-aged man wiping the shelves. “Good morning, Uncle Fang.”
The middle-aged man turned around, smiling. “Xiao Gao, you’re here so early.”
Gao Jing gave a small smile.
He’d only slept four or five hours the night before.
“Wilderness Hunter” was one of the earliest outdoor shops on Pude Road. Gao Jing had done business with them before, which was how he knew the owner.
Uncle Fang didn’t waste words. “Follow me. Got everything ready for you.”
He locked the glass door and led Gao Jing to an inner room.
A pile of items lay on the table there. Uncle Fang picked up a Hunting Crossbow. “Sagittarius C Model Hunting Crossbow. Effective range 120 meters, comes with laser sight. Nearly new—4,500 for you with 50 bolts.”
As he put the crossbow down, he pulled out a black blade. “Ontario Machete. Well, a replica. But guaranteed good quality. Brand new, 1,100 and it’s yours.”
“This US-made multi-tool knife…”
After introducing every item, Uncle Fang concluded, “Total: 12,750. Pay 12,700.”
“Alright.”
Gao Jing took out his phone. “I’ll send it via WeChat.”
Last night he’d called Uncle Fang to order a full set of hunting and exploration gear.
Now he was here to pick it up.
Besides the crossbow and the Machete, there were essentials like travel jackets and pants, hiking boots, a backpack, a first-aid kit, a water purifier, and more.
Though pricey altogether, better safe than sorry.
This was no ordinary trip, after all.
Gao Jing didn’t bargain because Uncle Fang wouldn’t cheat him.
The man’s reputation in the circle was flawless.
“Xiao Gao.”
Uncle Fang spoke gravely. “Have fun, but be safe, okay?”
Hunting Crossbows and Machetes were technically controlled items. He’d only sell them to someone he knew well.
When Gao Jing called with the order last night, Uncle Fang had asked questions repeatedly.
“Don’t worry.”
Gao Jing laughed. “Just needed some stress relief.”
His excuse was that he’d quit his job, gone back home, and planned to find some fun in the mountains.
Uncle Fang nodded, saying no more.
He’d known Gao Jing for three years and trusted his character.
Gao Jing wasn’t reckless.
After tying the bags to the motorcycle’s rear seat, Gao Jing waved goodbye to Uncle Fang and headed back to his rented room.
He didn’t rush to explore the new world. Instead, he got a thick plank to use as a target. In his room, he practiced repeatedly, learning to handle the Hunting Crossbow.
He also searched for wilderness survival guides and videos online.
More skills wouldn’t hurt—he’d regret knowing too little when needing them most!
The Bronze Anchor could bring him back anytime, guaranteeing safety as much as possible.
But knowing more would help explore that new world.
On the fifth morning after getting the Bronze Anchor, Gao Jing finally put on all his gear, ready to venture out.
He touched the Bronze Anchor hanging against his chest.
Those days, he wore the necklace without removing it, even when showering or sleeping. He sensed its bond growing stronger—a strange yet deep feeling.
Even if thrown far away, he could always find it.
“Go!”
Focusing his mind, Gao Jing instantly vanished.
He reappeared in the alien forest.
“Huh?”
Tensed up and ready to flee, Gao Jing froze instead.
His worst fears hadn’t come true. Night hadn’t fallen, and no beasts were nearby.
Everything looked familiar—the same spot as his first arrival. Time here had paused when he left and only resumed when he returned.
That was… intriguing.
Gao Jing checked the multi-function hiking watch on his wrist. Temperature, air pressure, altitude readings were normal. Even the compass worked.
No satellite signal, of course—otherwise he’d have questioned his existence.
The watch read 8:25:17 AM.
He took a few cautious steps.
Gravity felt almost identical to Blue Star. He felt neither heavier nor lighter.
Next, he measured with a Geiger counter.
Radiation levels normal.
Gao Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
The air tasted fresh, especially lush with oxygen in the forest.
His boots sank several inches into leaf-covered, humus-rich soil, but movement remained easy.
After putting away the Geiger counter, Gao Jing began exploring—treading lightly into the unknown.
It wasn’t smooth sailing.
Thick vines sprawled wildly across the forest floor. Countless gnarled tree roots arched high, forming major obstacles in his path.
Even the sharp Machete struggled against tough vines. To save energy, Gao Jing tried steering clear of impassable barriers. Where unavoidable, he climbed over them.
Right after one hop down, a buzzing filled his ears.
He turned his head: dozens of blue-purple mosquitoes charged toward him!
Running into bugs in a forest was normal, but these mosquitoes were each bigger than an adult fist.
Wings buzzing, their long needle-like mouths thrust forward, aiming straight for Gao Jing.
Like swarms of miniature bomber planes!
Gao Jing’s heart jumped.
Mosquitoes this size could drain him to a husk right there!
Moving fast, he snatched bug spray from his waist pouch and sprayed it at the swarm.
Fog droplets burst into the air, releasing strong fumes.
Unsure if it would work on this world’s insects, he prepared to leave instantly.
Luckily, it worked.
Repulsed by the smell, the purple mosquitoes swerved away and vanished.
The nerve-wracked Gao Jing exhaled deeply. He quickly sprayed his clothes too.
Catching them early was key—if ambushed, his travel gear might not have shielded him.
The thought alone chilled him.
Right after spraying, rustling noises reached his ears.
Gao Jing’s body stiffened—his eyes wide.
Mere steps away, a dark-red centipede wider than a palm crawled out of shadowy grass.
It waved its feelers and crawled slowly on countless legs across dead leaves, disappearing into a nearby mud tunnel.
By sight, at least two meters long!
Gao Jing truly felt like shouting “What the hell?!”
He’d read online that Blue Star’s largest Giant Centipede barely stretched past 40 centimeters.
Compared to this one, it’d be like a preschooler beside an adult.
Gao Jing looked up: the surrounding trees towered impossibly high, vanishing from view.
The smallest visible tree required multiple people to encircle it and grew differently from the giants.
Recalling his dreams, an astonishing theory struck Gao Jing.
Life here—plant or animal—was super-sized. Even insects were ten times bigger than Blue Star’s, maybe more.
In other words, this was a genuine “Great World”…
As if Blue Star magnified tenfold!
And within this Great World, Gao Jing was unquestionably small—like Gulliver in Brobdingnag!
Holy…!
This likely accurate realization made Gao Jing’s scalp crawl and body shiver.
His courage to explore faded instantly.
Dangers here could be ten, even a hundred times worse than imagined!
Though the Bronze Anchor could return him to Blue Star in an instant, too many unknowns remained.
Say, stumbling through the woods when a beast runs past—carelessly stepping on him kills him before he can react.
What now?
Give up, or keep going? Profound hesitation swallowed Gao Jing.