Chapter 34: I brought it back, is there a problem?

When Qiao Yitong walked out of Area C with Big Orange, it sparked a boiling wave of heated discussion among the entire audience.

“Wait, that massive thing following Qiao Yitong… that’s a tiger, right?!”

“Help! It looks like a real tiger. It suddenly appeared on the ground and gave me a heart attack.”

“So there are actually tigers living on this Deserted Island? What on earth is the Director Group doing?”

The moment everyone saw the tiger, their scalps went numb.

The sheer intimidation of the King of the Mountain made every step it took send shivers down people’s spines.

Some viewers in front of their screens were so startled they nearly dropped their phones.

Once they regained their senses, disbelief took over.

How could there be a tiger here?!

No, more importantly, why did this tiger look… so docile?

Were their eyes playing tricks on them?

The bullet comments were filled with people screaming for the Director Group, demanding they come out and explain.

Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, the entire Director Group had bolted to their feet the second the tiger appeared.

Previously, their staff members had encountered danger in Area C because one ran into a venomous snake and another was heavily charged from behind by a wild boar.

But they never imagined there was an actual tiger in these mountains!

The moment the tiger showed its face, the entire team fell into a panic.

This was undoubtedly the biggest uncontrollable factor they had encountered since the show began.

Although the production team had filed contingency plans before the broadcast—stating that even accidental deaths were within the scope of their records—a tiger suddenly appearing and wiping out all thirteen contestants, killing or maiming them all, would be a catastrophic production failure!

An error of that magnitude would definitely see the director’s head on a platter.

The emergency public relations team within the Director Group was already on high alert. The director gripped his phone tightly, ready at any moment to break the rules and send in a rescue team.

Even if they might not arrive in time to save everyone, they at least had to prevent a total team wipeout.

The director’s phone screen was lit up; he was about to place the call.

But the assistant director beside him suddenly grabbed his arm. “Wait a second, something seems off.”

“Huh?”

The director looked back at the screen suspiciously, and then he understood exactly what the assistant director meant by “off.”

That tiger, which was supposed to be the King of All Beasts—where was its predatory aura?

How was it any different from a giant pet cat?

“Why isn’t this tiger attacking them?” The director was momentarily dazed.

“I don’t know…” The assistant director was equally bewildered.

“Could it be that this tiger knows Qiao Yitong?” PD Wei’s imagination ran wild, and he blurted out the thought.

He was met with total silence from everyone in the room.

That’s a bit too much of a stretch, buddy.

PD Wei also realized his suggestion was a bit ridiculous. He gave an awkward laugh and stopped talking.

Why the King of the Mountain was following Qiao Yitong and the others so submissively became an unsolved mystery for the entire production crew.

While they were puzzled, the problem facing them remained unresolved.

“Um, Director, what do we do next? Looking at Qiao Yitong’s movements, it seems like she plans to bring this tiger back to their base.”

They stared blankly at the screen for a long, long time until PD Wei finally spoke up.

Director Song: “…”

How was he supposed to know what to do?

Before the show started, they had made all sorts of contingency plans. To handle every possible situation, their manual was a whole book long, nearly three hundred thousand words!

But no matter how much they planned ahead, who the hell could have guessed they would actually run into Area C? Not only did they go to Area C, but they brought back local specialties—and they even brought back the King of the Mountain himself?

This completely disrupted all their plans and deployments.

What to do next immediately became a massive problem.

Finally, Director Song’s gaze settled on Qiao Yitong and Big Orange. After a long pause, he pulled his hat down low and gritted his teeth. “Find someone to keep an eye on this. Report any issues immediately. The rest of you, come with me for a meeting.”

This order for a meeting startled the members of the Director Group in the monitoring room.

One had to realize that since the show began, this was the first time they were holding a collective meeting.

As a cold-blooded director who frequently helmed similar shows, Director Song had looked like a man in total control from the moment he sat down.

This was the first time he had shown a sense of losing his grip on the situation.

Looking at Director Song, PD Wei was still nervous for the contestants, but he couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

A few days ago, he had been wondering what kind of event would make Director Song lose his composure. He hadn’t expected the answer to come so quickly.

Then again…

Thinking about it, who wouldn’t lose their composure seeing a scene like this?

PD Wei shook his head and looked back at Qiao Yitong on the screen.

This person had been delivering surprises… or scares… ever since she joined the show. She really was something else.

…

On the other side, Qiao Yitong was still dragging the wild boar back.

After the initial shock of seeing a tiger following Qiao Yitong, the viewers in the bullet comments finally noticed the two-hundred-pound wild boar she was hauling.

“Holy crap, look at what’s in Qiao Yitong’s hand.”

“Is that… a wild boar?”

“Wait, so they really went hunting? And they actually succeeded?”

“Aaaaah my god, what on earth happened to them in Area C? I’m so curious!”

“Same here. Why is there no surveillance in Area C?”

“Because Area C is dangerous. The production team said from the start that any activities in Area C have to be recorded by the contestants themselves.”

“So did they record it?”

“I doubt it. Look, there’s a wild boar and a tiger. In such a dangerous situation, how could they possibly have the mind to film?”

Netizens were buzzing with discussion, everyone dying to know exactly what was happening inside.

But no matter how much they scratched their heads in frustration, they couldn’t conjure up a single frame of video.

Meanwhile, back at the base.

The Coconut Fish meal from the previous day had been an absolute delight for Lu Cheng.

After finishing it, he had been so excited that he stayed up until the middle of the night, rambling incessantly to the camera and chatting one-sidedly with the viewers.

Every three sentences, he would circle back to just how delicious that Coconut Fish had been.

His smug, flaunting attitude made the audience want to punch him, but he also managed to hook them all; they were becoming genuinely curious.

Was that legendary Coconut Fish really that good?

Lu Cheng had talked to himself until the early hours, and since he went to sleep late, he woke up late the next day.

By the time he got up, Sister Tong and Deng You had already left.

Since Sister Tong went out every day to explore and forage for food, Lu Cheng had long since grown used to it and didn’t think much of it.

However, today, as the afternoon wore on and the two still hadn’t returned, a faint sense of panic began to stir in Lu Cheng’s heart.

Why weren’t Sister Tong and the other back yet?

Had something happened?

No, Sister Tong was so capable, how could anything happen to her?

Lu Cheng told himself this, but at the same time, a voice in his mind reminded him that no matter how capable Sister Tong was, she was still just an ordinary human girl.

If they really encountered some insurmountable danger, what then?

The more Lu Cheng thought about it, the more anxious he became. He paced back and forth near the base, unable to sit still.

Should he go out and look for them?

But even if he went out, he had no idea where Sister Tong actually was.

The thought only made him feel more frustrated.

No, just sitting here waiting wasn’t an option; he had to find something to do.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Qi Qing suddenly approached from a distance.

It looked like she was looking for him.

Lu Cheng stopped in his tracks and looked at Qi Qing with confusion.

Ever since Qi Qing had apologized to Qiao Yitong, even though Qiao Yitong hadn’t expressed any lingering resentment, Qi Qing still couldn’t get over that hurdle in her own heart.

Lately, she had been keeping an eye on Qiao Yitong, consciously or otherwise. Driven by instinct, she had been looking for something she could do for Qiao Yitong to make up for the guilt she felt.

But she had never found the opportunity.

Today, she had overheard the conversation between Qiao Yitong and Deng You in the morning.

While she had no standing to stop Qiao Yitong, the words stayed with her.

They had kept her worried all day.

They were going to Area C. If something happened in such a dangerous place, what would they do?

And now, with so much time passed and Qiao Yitong still not back, Qi Qing could no longer sit still.

She walked up to Lu Cheng and asked, “Lu Cheng, do you know where Qiao Yitong and the other went?”

“I don’t,” Lu Cheng said, raising an eyebrow. “Do you?”

Qi Qing hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip. “This morning, I heard them say they were going to Area C.”

That single sentence made Lu Cheng’s pupils shrink instantly.

“Area C? How do you know?”

“I heard them this morning. Seeing that they haven’t come back yet, I’m worried something might have happened. If they really ran into danger out there, without…”

Before Qi Qing could finish her sentence, Lu Cheng had already turned around.

“What are you doing…”

“Going back to get my knife. To save them.”

Lu Cheng spoke curtly, his movements swift, but his entire face had turned deathly pale.

Sister Tong and the other actually went to Area C, and they still weren’t back.

If something happened…

If…

Lu Cheng felt his mind go blank. The moment he thought of a bad outcome, his body began to feel cold.

When he came back out with his machete, he found that Qi Qing hadn’t left.

Without waiting for Lu Cheng to speak, Qi Qing took the initiative. “I’m going with you.”

Lu Cheng frowned. “It might be very dangerous.”

“If there really is danger, what use will you be going alone?” Qi Qing countered.

Lu Cheng was speechless.

Qi Qing didn’t say much more. Her time on the island had changed her mindset to some extent. Compared to worrying about this or that, she wanted to follow her own heart.

Even if following her heart meant being isolated.

Even if she would be boycotted by netizens after leaving the island, or even if she would be mocked, it didn’t matter as much anymore.

After surviving under such extreme conditions for a period of time, combined with her previous brush with death, the vanities of the world—fame, fortune, and the like—had all lost some of their luster.

No matter how much one pursued them, these were things one couldn’t bring into life or take into death. On the contrary, the silence she had maintained to desperately cling to those things—out of fear of isolation, out of fear of being boycotted by the internet for standing with Qiao Yitong—was a hurdle she found harder and harder to clear every time she thought about it.

Lu Cheng couldn’t argue.

Or perhaps, he simply didn’t want to waste any more time.

If Qiao Yitong really had encountered danger there, then time was of the essence.

The two of them set off in that direction.

As they passed by Shisan and the others, Qi Qing suddenly stopped. She looked toward Shisan’s group.

“Um, Qiao Yitong might be in trouble. We’re planning to go save them. Does anyone want to come along? It might be safer with more people,” Qi Qing said.

Qiao Yitong’s presence had been incredibly strong lately, so everyone looked over when they heard Qi Qing’s words.

Everyone immediately had their own thoughts, looking somewhat hesitant.

• Honestly, Qi Qing asking these people is hilarious. How could a bunch of selfish people who only care about themselves go save anyone? –

• Good god, why is Qi Qing such a busybody? Fine, if you want to be a saint and ignore your own safety to save someone, that’s your business, but why call on others? Are other people’s lives not lives too? –

• Hahahaha, they have no idea what’s happening on Qiao Yitong’s end. I’m actually curious to see their reactions if they really go to “save” her and see her coming back with a tiger. –

After Qi Qing finished asking, she realized no one was responding.

She lowered her gaze, not appearing particularly surprised.

Everyone had their own choices to make, and she couldn’t use her own choices to make demands of others.

Still, there was a lingering sense of disappointment.

Regardless of whether Qiao Yitong had been part of their team before, she was still human, one of their own.

If they could treat her with such cold indifference now, then later…

Qi Qing let out a long, heavy breath and turned to leave.

The moment she turned around, Peppa Lamb’s voice rang out from behind her.

“Qi Qing! Don’t go,” Peppa Lamb called out.

Qi Qing frowned slightly, not understanding his intent.

Peppa Lamb stood up and grabbed her arm. “What’s the use of you going? Do you think your abilities are stronger than hers? Based on what we’ve seen over the last few days, she’s far more capable than any of us. If there’s something even she can’t handle, what could you possibly do?”

Qi Qing remained silent.

Logically, she knew Peppa Lamb was right, but she had already failed to act once before. If she stood by and watched again this time, her conscience wouldn’t let her rest.

“I agree with Peppa. Qiao Yitong has more experience than all of us, and she went to Area C. Even if we want to go, we need a proper plan instead of just rushing in. How is that any different from throwing our lives away?” Shisan added from the side.

Of course, these were just the surface-level reasons. More importantly, the thought of going to Area C personally terrified him.

In fact, before coming here, he had been in contact with a member of the Director Group.

Most of the information he’d received was worthless, but there was one detail he had etched into his memory.

Area C was complicated. The staff had felt a sense of danger while exploring it. The island was large enough that the area was self-contained; as long as no one provoked it, the things there wouldn’t come out.

But there was no telling what would happen if someone actually went inside.

He kept those words close to his heart. If they were talking about looking for someone anywhere else, he might have followed along.

After all, it was a great opportunity to repair his relationship with Qiao Yitong and get back on her good side.

But Area C was a hard no.

“Exactly. We should just stay here quietly so we don’t end up getting in the way and making things worse.”

Everyone chimed in with their own persuasions.

Lu Cheng watched from the sidelines with a cold gaze. Finally, fed up with the chatter, he didn’t say a word and simply started walking away.

Qi Qing watched Lu Cheng’s retreating figure, then looked back at Shisan and the others. Finally, she gritted her teeth and moved to catch up with Lu Cheng.

She was using her actions to state her position.

To everyone’s surprise, after they set off, the Doctor – who had been staying on the periphery – also stood up.

He shouldered his medical kit and followed silently behind them.

Facing the questioning looks from Lu Cheng and Qi Qing, the Doctor simply said, “In case of injury, I can provide immediate treatment.”

Lu Cheng nodded.

Having the Doctor willing to come along was the best possible outcome.

The tension and annoyance on his face relaxed slightly.

…

Qiao Yitong and Deng You were still making their way back, nearly out of the jungle.

Along the way, Deng You had watched Sister Tong interact with the tiger. After the initial terror that made his heart nearly leap out of his chest, he had gradually begun to grow used to it.

Or rather, it wasn’t that he was used to it, but that he had become numb.

Now that they were almost back at the base, he finally swallowed hard and used his stick to support himself as he hurried to Qiao Yitong’s side.

“Sister Tong, what do you plan to do with this tiger?” Deng You asked.

Do with it?

Qiao Yitong frowned. “I’m taking him back.”

Since she had reunited with Big Orange, she had no intention of parting with him again.

“Back to the camp? Sister Tong, have you thought about this? He is the King of Beasts, the ruler of the jungle. Bringing him back to camp would…” Deng You stopped halfway, leaving the rest unsaid.

“If you can’t accept it, you can leave,” Qiao Yitong’s tone turned abruptly cold.

Compared to Deng You, whom she had only recently met, Big Orange was a family member she truly cherished.

“No, Sister Tong, that’s not what I meant. I’m saying…”

This time, before he could finish, Big Orange suddenly fixed his gaze on him.

The tiger let out a roar directed straight at Deng You, his eyes filled with a wary, hostile light.

He didn’t understand the words, but he could sense that this human wanted to separate him from this warm “big sister.”

This was the first time Deng You had faced a tiger’s roar at such close range. The vibrations from the roar left his mind blank, and his chest felt as if it were about to burst under the force of the sound. He stood there frozen, unable to move a muscle.

Expecting a human to face a tiger’s roar without protection was simply asking too much.

Hearing the sound, Qiao Yitong immediately understood Big Orange’s intent.

She reached out and wrapped her arm around Big Orange’s neck, rubbing his chin to soothe him.

Feeling Qiao Yitong’s care, Big Orange gave Deng You one last warning glare before withdrawing his kingly aura. He became as docile as a giant housecat, nuzzling into Qiao Yitong’s palm.

The person and the tiger continued forward. It was a long, long time before Deng You finally managed to shift his feet and regain the ability to walk.

This experience of facing a tiger’s roar would, in the future, allow him to smile calmly in the face of all sorts of setbacks and pressures.

When people later asked him for his secret, wondering how he remained so composed, he would say with absolute calm, “If you had ever stood face-to-face with a tiger’s roar, you would be this composed too.”

On the other side.

Lu Cheng, Qi Qing, and the Doctor had barely started walking when a tiger’s roar suddenly ripped through the air. The sound was majestic and shocking, making the entire jungle seem to tremble.

“That… that’s a tiger!” Qi Qing’s voice shook, filled with terror.

“Why is there a tiger here?” Lu Cheng asked, his voice trembling slightly as well.

If there was a tiger in the jungle, then Sister Tong…

Lu Cheng’s face turned deathly pale.

An unprecedented fear, even more intense than the terror he felt when he was drowning a few days ago, flooded his heart, leaving his entire body shaking.

Behind them, the Doctor also felt a jolt. After forcing down the discomfort caused by the roar, he stepped forward and patted Lu Cheng’s shoulder. “Don’t panic yet. Even if there’s a tiger, they might not necessarily run into it.”

Lu Cheng regained a bit of his composure after hearing those words of comfort.

He was right. The island was vast. Even if there were tigers, the chances of Sister Tong running into one were slim.

But if that was the case, it was all the more reason to find her quickly!

“Let’s move faster,” Lu Cheng said to the two behind him, quickening his pace toward the jungle.

At the same time, Shisan and the others, who had been sitting relatively relaxed, suddenly heard the tiger’s roar from a very close distance. They instantly fell into a panic, nearly jumping out of their skins.

There was a tiger nearby!

As the realization dawned on them, faces turned ashen, and eyes filled with terror.

Some looked around frantically, searching for a place to hide.

The Fitness Coach, Xu Yang, was so terrified that he collapsed onto the ground. He didn’t even care when the half-grilled fish in his hand fell into the dirt. He just muttered to himself, “It’s over, it’s all over. How can there be a tiger here!”

Chaos erupted at the base. The fear of facing imminent danger was impossible to fake.

Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, Shisan stepped forward, grabbed the machete beside him, and shouted, “Everyone, don’t panic! Find a safe place to hide. As long as we don’t run around blindly, the tiger might not attack us!”

Though he spoke the words, the tremor in his voice betrayed his own internal terror.

Peppa Lamb was stunned. Forgetting all about his online persona, he said blankly, “How could a tiger get here? Isn’t this supposed to be a safe zone?”

The moment the words “safe zone” left his mouth, it was as if something clicked. His eyes turned bloodshot.

He understood now!

“It’s all Qiao Yitong’s fault! Tigers are only supposed to be in Area C. She must have lured it out!” Peppa Lamb roared.

“What the hell is she trying to do!”

“I knew looking for Qiao Yitong would lead to trouble. I should have never come to this godforsaken place!”

Jing Xueqin, who had remained silent until now, felt a deep sense of cowardice creeping up from his heart.

He wasn’t afraid of the objective risks on the island because his company had provided him with hidden trump cards.

But if a tiger truly charged out, would those cards be of any use?

Everything was an unknown.

Yet, in the midst of this chaos, a clear, pleasant voice suddenly rang out like a cool spring, reaching everyone’s ears.

“The tiger is from Area C, and I’m the one who brought it back. Is there a problem? Does anyone have an objection?”

That single sentence brought the chaos to a standstill.

Everyone turned their heads stiffly. There, standing tall against the light at the edge of the jungle, was Qiao Yitong. And behind her, a tiger was slowly pacing.