Xiao Feng's expression changed; this tone didn't seem to be feigned.

Moreover, based on Zhao Guo'an's past behavior, he is someone with a strong survival instinct, or rather, someone with a good grasp of the situation, so the possibility of him joking like that is almost nonexistent.

Realizing this, Xiao Feng couldn't care about much else, turned on the flashlight, and shone it in Zhao Guo'an's direction.

"Thud!"

Almost at the same moment the flashlight was turned on, Zhao Guo'an fell to the ground, clutching his right leg with both hands, gritting his teeth tightly, and gasping for air.

It was clear that he was in real agony; his expression had twisted, sweat poured from his forehead like a waterfall, and even his veins had popped out.

Everyone was shocked, completely unable to understand what was happening.

"Watch your feet!" Xiao Feng ordered sternly.

The group quickly turned on their flashlights, cautiously inspecting their feet and surroundings.

Before long, Jiu Ye exclaimed, "Found it."

He then took out two black bamboo chopsticks from his pocket and bent down to clamp a scorpion the size of a child's palm.

Despite being clamped, the scorpion kept attacking the chopsticks with its stinger, resisting fiercely.

Its whole body was brown, but its tail was jet-black like ink, showing that its venom was strong with just a glance!

And indeed, Zhao Guo'an's right calf was visibly more swollen than the left.

Sun Shijie immediately sprang into action, grabbing Zhao Guo'an's knee with his hands and urgently saying, "Get me the silver needle from the bag, quick!"

The nearest to him, Lin Jiaxuan, reacted first, unzipping Sun Shijie's backpack, retrieving the small bundle containing the silver needles, and laying it out in front of him.

Sun Shijie took out a silver needle, stabbing it into Zhao Guo'an's forehead and philtrum, followed by a successive seven needles around the knee area.

At this moment, Zhao Guo'an was clearly disoriented, foaming at the mouth, muscles spasming, and his face turned an alarming black, making one deeply concerned about whether he was beyond saving.

"Rip!"

Sun Shijie used a knife to neatly cut Zhao Guo'an's clothing around the knee, everyone focused their flashlights on Zhao Guo'an's leg, their faces turning grim instantly.

Zhao Guo'an's leg was swollen to a shocking degree, with black liquid oozing from his pores at a rate visible to the naked eye, soon covering the surface.

More so, his right foot was so swollen that the shoe couldn't be removed, forced to be cut open with a knife to free the foot.

"Don't let your guard down, keep an eye on the surroundings and under your feet!" Xiao Feng said in a heavy voice.

He was also worried about Zhao Guo'an's condition, but this was not the time to solely focus on the fallen; they had to ensure no similar incidents occurred.

No one would have thought beforehand that they were guarding against bats overhead, only to be ambushed by a scorpion crawling on the ground.

Everyone was wearing the same standard-issue hiking boots, with a steel plate at the toe, providing good defense though they were heavy, avoiding injuries from regular kicks or bumps.

But no matter how well-made, hiking boots were not pure iron; weak spots were present, and the tiny red spot on Zhao Guo'an's instep was the best proof!

"How's the situation?" Xiao Feng asked Sun Shijie as he supported Zhao Guo'an in his lap.

Sun Shijie, with his fingers on Zhao Guo'an's pulse, shook his head and said with a heavy expression, "Not good. The detoxification medicine has been administered, but it's not effective, it's only temporarily containing the venom from spreading further."

"Does bleeding help?" Xiao Feng asked.

"Not all poison can be solved by bleeding. The key now is to reduce the swelling; if this continues, he might lose his leg in less than half a day."

"Is the poison that severe?" Xiao Feng frowned deeply.

In fact, it's just like how hackers can't anticipate and develop programs against viruses ahead of time, because you can't know where the attack will come from, and all-around defense is just a concept.

Understanding is one thing, but watching Zhao Guo'an about to lose a leg was something Xiao Feng couldn't accept.

They could joke as they liked usually, even if Zhao Guo'an were conscious and not severely poisoned now, Xiao Feng might have suggested amputation as a final solution.

But a joke is still just a joke; Xiao Feng felt he would regret it for a lifetime if he didn't do something.

Just then, Jiu Ye, who had pinned the scorpion to the ground, suddenly said, "I have an idea, but..."

In the periphery, Lin Zhiyan, without turning her head, intercepted, "At a time like this, any method is worth trying."

Jiu Ye nodded, "Have you ever heard the saying that for every highly toxic creature, within a hundred meters, there is always an antidote?"

"You mean, the antidote to save Lao Zhao is nearby?" Xiao Feng pursued further.

Jiu Ye didn't reply directly; instead, he thought for a moment and said, "Once, I led a team down a tomb, a Han dynasty tomb..."

Xiao Feng impatiently interrupted, "This isn't the time for stories, just say what you thought of."

"Bats." Jiu Ye calmly uttered the word.

"Bats?"

Everyone exclaimed in disbelief at this answer.

After a moment of silence, Sun Shijie mused, "Counteracting poison with poison? To put it bluntly, such a method is as good as giving up.

Currently, the poison is contained; the worst-case scenario is losing a calf, but if counteracting poison with poison doesn't work, it could cost a life."

The scene once again plunged into silence; no one could decide for Zhao Guo'an.

But the problem was that Zhao Guo'an was clearly incapable of making a choice now.

The indecision, hesitation, this feeling, as time passed, was driving everyone to the brink of collapse!

"Let's try it." Xiao Feng took a deep breath, looked at Lin Zhiyan, and asked, "Can you bring down one or two bats?"

This request was quite strict, even unreasonable.

With bats covering the ceiling, any disturbance would alert a swarm; how could one or two be caught individually?

Lin Zhiyan frowned deeply, then nodded decisively after a moment, "I'll do my best."

Saying this, she gripped a long whip in one hand, her eyes unblinking at the bats hanging on the edge above in the faint light.

There was only one chance, and if not seized properly, it might backfire, implicating everyone.

By then, forget saving Zhao Guo'an, even their safety would be an uncertainty.

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