Chapter Sixteen: Intentional Rescue

Zhou Xuan had finally obtained the raw materials for the brain domain development potion he had always dreamed of, and naturally, he was overjoyed. Although possessing these materials did not guarantee that he would be able to create a special potion capable of developing the brain domain, Zhou Xuan was not in a hurry. With so many materials at his disposal, he would have them all to himself for decades to come; opportunity was plentiful.

As Zhou Xuan pressed forward swiftly, five kilometers away in a mountain valley, three young men found themselves in peril.

"Jiang, what should we do? We've been lost for three days now. If we don't find a way out soon, we're going to starve to death," said one of them, his hands covered in wounds, looking up at a short-haired youth beside him, whose face was etched with exhaustion.

These were the three people Zhou Xuan intended to save. Five days ago, they had ventured into the Black Bamboo Ravine, encountering danger three days in. Lost and injured, their mobility was hindered.

Jiang, the leader of the trio, stood about six feet tall, clad in camouflage and carrying a large backpack. His determined face now bore only fatigue and despair as he surveyed their surroundings.

"Am I really going to die here in Black Bamboo Ravine? If only I hadn't acted impulsively, coming here to seek adventure," he muttered.

As one of the most outstanding members of the Jiang family in the imperial capital, Jiang Yun deeply regretted this trip. The two men beside him were also physically robust, clearly accustomed to regular exercise—otherwise, they wouldn't have joined Jiang Yun in this trek.

Jiang Yun was a scion of a prominent family in the capital, and Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng were no ordinary youths either. Wang Ximing's father was a provincial party committee member and minister of organization, with a grandfather who once presided over the provincial political consultative conference. Deng Cheng was the son of Deng Ting'an, chairman of the Southwest's largest real estate group, Blue Sky Group, and his mother chaired the board of Rainbow Holdings—a true-born heir of wealth.

The three had originally been university classmates, later becoming close friends. All shared a love for sports and the outdoors, and this graduation journey was initiated by Wang Ximing; together, they chose to traverse Black Bamboo Ravine.

None of them expected to end up trapped here, wandering for three days without finding a way out. It was uncanny. They had heard reports before but had doubted their validity; now, they were convinced. If they survived, they'd never return to this place.

Meanwhile, their disappearance had already sparked a storm outside. Beyond Black Bamboo Ravine, over three thousand search and rescue personnel had gathered, combing the area in hopes of finding the missing trio.

Zhou Xuan recalled hearing about this event from an old soldier who had participated in the rescue when Zhou Xuan was much older. That man said they were found after being missing for three days and eighteen hours. Unfortunately, two were seriously injured, and Jiang Yun—scion of the capital's noble family—never made it out alive.

Though the Jiang family did not pursue responsibility, the once close relations among the three families plummeted to freezing point. The Wang and Deng families' development in the provincial capital stagnated, and over time, declined even further.

Now, Zhou Xuan had arrived at this crucial moment, prepared to appear before them—especially when Jiang Yun was on the verge of losing his life, to save him and bring him to safety. By maintaining this connection in the future, Zhou Xuan would secure powerful support for his own endeavors.

Zhou Xuan was not cold-hearted, but he had little fondness for the offspring of officials and tycoons. Jiang Yun and his friends were not as arrogant or domineering as others of their ilk, but he felt they deserved a bit of hardship. As long as he rescued Jiang Yun after their separation, he could earn both Jiang Yun's gratitude for saving his life and Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng's appreciation.

Adding fuel to the fire could never compare to offering help in dire straits, so since encountering them, Zhou Xuan had kept a close watch, following every step.

Several hours later, their injuries had nearly brought them to collapse. Zhou Xuan stayed close, alert for any sudden developments. If all three perished, his efforts would have been in vain.

At that moment, the trio suddenly split apart. A peculiar disturbance rippled through the forest, and Jiang Yun, lagging behind, was seized by dizziness and collapsed. Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng, disoriented, drifted off in another direction, vanishing into the dense woods in mere seconds.

Zhou Xuan felt a tremor but quickly regained clarity. He looked up at Jiang Yun lying far ahead, thinking, "No wonder so many people disappear inexplicably in Black Bamboo Ravine. It turns out this place experiences mysterious disturbances from time to time, affecting people's minds and causing hallucinations. Many, lost to these effects, perish here."

Seeing Jiang Yun unconscious before him, Zhou Xuan smiled, everything unfolding exactly as he intended.

A few hours later, two kilometers from the valley where they had been, a search and rescue team worked feverishly. The members were visibly exhausted—after working for over a dozen hours without proper rest, fatigue weighed heavily on them.

Gazing at the endless mountains and the darkening sky, a sense of dread took root in their hearts. After all, the so-called Valley of Death was not just an empty phrase; over the years, countless people had entered Black Bamboo Ravine, never to return. The fear was palpable.

Suddenly, an unexpected sound was heard not far ahead. A team member, instantly alert, called everyone forward.

Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng, heads clouded and wandering aimlessly, had unknowingly walked out of the communications blackout zone. Only upon seeing the rescuers did they realize they had been saved. Relief flooded them, and they collapsed on the spot.

As they fell, they caught sight of each other—and noticed that Jiang Yun was missing. Shocked, they thought, "Now we're in real trouble," and were overcome with remorse and regret over the trip.

Hours later, they woke in a tent. Upon hearing that Jiang Yun had still not been found, their last hopes were dashed.

"It's over! This is big trouble!" they both thought, unable to suppress their anxiety.

As everyone exchanged worried glances, unsure what to do, the representative of the Jiang family looked ashen, while the Wang and Deng families were equally anxious. Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside.

People rushed out of their tents, witnessing a remarkable sight: a figure approached the camp under the moonlight, carrying another person on his back.

Wasn't that Jiang Yun? Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng were overjoyed, and the rest were equally elated.

Everyone realized that this ordeal was finally coming to an end.