Wilderness Survival with Druid System

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Stumbling Upon Freshwater

”Hello, this is the Hua Country Coast Guard. How can we assist you?”

”There’s been an incident! There’s been an incident! A fishing boat has wrecked! There are casualties!”

”Alright, please stay calm, ensure your safety as much as possible, and tell us your location. Rescue is on the way!”

”It’s not us, it’s the Huannan Fishery No.5145. We found the body of their captain, the location is...”

After hanging up the phone, the captain collapsed onto the deck.

”Find a few brave ones to bring Zhao up.”

The fishing boat was wrecked.

In today’s tech-savvy world, it’s rare, but not unheard of.

However, it’s a major incident if an entire crew may have perished.

Thus, under the swift mobilization of the Coast Guard.

A rescue team not far from the wreck site quickly set sail to conduct search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard personnel received notice to set sail for investigation early the next morning.

...

Early the next morning.

Chen Wen got up early.

He hadn’t slept well the night before.

Fear in his heart and the hard ground both disturbed his sleep.

After getting up, Chen Wen groped his way to the seaside in the dark to wash his face and check if there were any ships passing by to the north.

It was still early, and the sky was dark.

The sea was equally black under the dim sky, void of any light.

Chen Wen stood alone by the seaside, the sea breeze blowing.

Like a lighthouse isolated overseas, never to see the other shore in a lifetime.

This feeling was truly unbearable.

”I must get the SOS signal out. I don’t want to spend my life in this godforsaken place!”

Chen Wen’s resolve grew stronger.

Returning to the camp.

The sand-and-soil covering method used last night worked very well, the fire was weak but still burning.

Chen Wen found a stick, poked the fire, and added some dry wood.

The bonfire blazed like it was drugged, burning vigorously.

By the firelight, Chen Wen opened two coconuts, drank the juice, and ate the coconut meat.

A simple breakfast.

As Chen Wen finished his breakfast, daylight gradually broke.

The second day of being stranded on the deserted island officially began.

Chen Wen also commenced action.

”First, set up the SOS signal, then go to the trash beach to search for supplies.”

With the task clear.

Chen Wen collected rocks in the woods around the camp.

He also gathered some black fallen leaves and packed them into a suitcase.

After collecting a suitcase full of stones and dried leaves, Chen Wen dragged the suitcase to the beach.

In the middle of the beach, beyond the reach of the tide, he dug an SOS pattern with his hands.

Afterward, Chen Wen lined it with dead leaves, then pressed stones on top.

In roughly over half an hour, a noticeable SOS pattern emerged on the beach.

”Done!”

Chen Wen clapped the dust off his hands.

Since it was still early, Chen Wen decided to take a short break before heading to the trash beach.

After sitting in the shelter for a while, and slowing the burn of the bonfire using the mud covering method.

Chen Wen began to prepare for the journey.

Since the trip was long, an unexpected situation could delay his return.

Chen Wen specifically brought a pack of compressed biscuits as rations.

With everything ready, Chen Wen officially set out.

...

The men’s group.

After struggling almost half the night, the men’s group finally got a fire burning again.

Faced with a strange and harsh environment, everyone in the men’s group slept poorly.

By early the next morning, everyone seemed a bit weary.

After a simple breakfast, Ding Decai began to assign tasks for the day.

”Today, explore the trash beach. Not many need to go. Xiao Pangzi, Lu Heng, Zhang Hu, you three explore the beach.”

”Tie Shan, Yachuan, take Guocheng and Yan Bian to pick coconuts.”

”The rest stay with me at the camp to repair the cave shelter.”

After assigning tasks, Ding Decai didn’t seek others’ consent.

He directly started clearing the debris around the cave.

Seeing this, the others didn’t have much to say and busied themselves with their tasks.

Lu Heng, accompanied by Wang Zhi and Zhang Hu, headed toward the trash beach.

...

Over on Chen Wen’s side.

Since the trash beach was a bit to the south.

He decided to go directly through the rainforest.

Before entering the rainforest, Chen Wen grabbed a handful of mud.

The same familiar formula, the same familiar taste.

But Chen Wen had somewhat adapted to it.

After applying the mud, Chen Wen quickened his pace.

As Chen Wen ventured deeper and deeper into the rainforest, the soil beneath his feet became increasingly soft.

After stepping into another mud pit, Chen Wen frowned, ”Why is the ground here so soft? The moisture content is quite high!”

”Could it be... there’s freshwater nearby?”

Chen Wen speculated boldly.

His sense of direction was fairly accurate.

According to his estimation, this should be southwest of the shelter.

The distance wasn’t far, but it was nearly two kilometers.

”If I can find freshwater, that would be a pleasant surprise.”

Chen Wen couldn’t help but think, ”After all, the freshwater I have is limited and impure. No matter how good Coke and coconut water are, they can’t fully replace freshwater.”

”Why not search for freshwater first? With a stable supply, I won’t have to pick coconuts anymore!”

”Moreover, it’s not hard to find freshwater. Just look where there are more mosquitoes and more wet mud. Mosquitoes breed near freshwater, and watery places have more mud.”

”Find freshwater!”

Upon discovering a potential freshwater source, Chen Wen decisively changed his course.

He started searching for areas dense with mosquitoes and land with more moisture.

Along the way, Chen Wen used a Swiss army knife to carve markers on trees as navigational aids.

Through Chen Wen’s relentless exploration.

Soon, after passing a bush.

A puddle of water appeared before Chen Wen.

But it wasn’t the freshwater Chen Wen wanted.

”Stagnant water, tsk, so many bugs, and the bottom is dirty too.”

With just a glance, Chen Wen dismissed the idea of using this water as a drinking source.

”However, the appearance of this puddle indicates I’m on the right track.”

Chen Wen estimated his current position, ”I’m probably in the middle of the island, in the heart of the tropical rainforest.”

”When climbing the coconut tree, I remember there were mountains to the southwest of the island. This should be the foothills; the area is rich in water resources. It’s likely there’s a stream flowing down from the mountain.”

”A stream could be an excellent freshwater source!”

After a short rest, Chen Wen continued to advance.

This time, Chen Wen not only looked but also listened to his surroundings for sounds.

Effort never betrays the determined!

In about five minutes or so, Chen Wen heard the sound of flowing water.

Not very loud, but clearly present.

Following the direction of the sound, he quickened his pace.

After pushing aside obstructing bushes, the trickling sound sharply increased.

A small creek nearly two meters wide appeared before Chen Wen.

”Liftoff!”

Chen Wen grinned, finally showing a smile.

In island survival, the most difficult issue isn’t food, but water!

After all, on these uninhabited islands, fishery resources are quite abundant!

Only water resources.

If there’s no freshwater source on the island, long-term survival would be impossible!

But not anymore.

A bountiful creek is an unlimited water source!

This island is truly a perfect survival habitat!

Reaching the creek, Chen Wen washed his hands and gathered some water in his hands.

Bringing it to his mouth, he took a small sip.

”Ah, it’s fresh water, and there’s no strange taste!”

Chen Wen spat out the creek water, delight lighting up his face.

”This little creek flows down exactly as I thought, from the mountain over there.”

”Judging by its course, the creek likely runs east. If I can find some plastic bottles on the trash beach, fetching water every two days would suffice!”

”Perfect!”