Live Streaming: Great Adventure in the Wilderness-Chapter 795 - 791: Arriving at the Sahara (Two in One)
The rope was untied and re-fastened to the bow.
Bi Fang, barefoot, stepped onto the sandy land, dragging the boat ashore and stretching the rope to tie it around a large tree on the bank.
The sun had already set, but the golden sands still retained the warmth of the sunlight, dispersing a hint of the autumn night's chill.
The soles of his feet rubbed against the sand, bringing a hard-to-describe sense of solidity.
Rainwater will eventually fall to the ground, and travelers will have their paths home.
This was a challenge that seemed unattainable, as well as a testament to humans facing their limits.
For most, the closest they might get to Nemo Point would be to pick up a map or a globe, or to open mapping software and enter this mysterious coordinate: [45º52.6S, 123º23.6W]
That deserted and mystic stretch of ocean might indeed allow one to truly cast aside all of the current pressures and unwind.
But first, you had to ensure you could get there—and survive.
Bi Fang did so, and he succeeded.
"My hair has grown a bit longer."
Bi Fang stroked his hair, at a loss for what to say or do next. His chapped lips moved awkwardly before suddenly blurting out that remark.
[It has grown a bit.]
[Is Master Fang a bit bewildered?]
[How does it feel?]
"It feels... um..." Bi Fang pondered for a moment and then laughed, "It's definitely satisfying, but if you ask me to do it again, I'm not so keen on the idea."
Storms, volcanoes, typhoons.
Gigantic waves, gales that snapped masts, scalding steam, corrosive seawater, nearly skin-peeling ultraviolet rays, a leaky boat, and the dire straits of having no water or food.
His skin, which had only just paled from the polar nights of the Arctic, was once again deeply tanned; his muscles ached and felt powerless, giving the sensation that the blood in his veins had been replaced by lactic acid.
His body was exhausted and struggling.
But his spirit had grown stronger.
95% of people see the obstacle, while the 4% and 1% minority see the goal.
Similarly, 95% of the world's population live their lives ordinarily, only 4% reach a higher level, and a further 1% step into a different realm.
The small-minded toil over describing the obstacles that hinder their progress and narrow their vision, while the strong who have direction have the confidence and determination to trample difficulties beneath their feet.
Cowards never start, the weak perish on the way, and only the strong make it through.
Bi Fang raised his head to look up at the starry sky; thousands of years ago, there were people who, like him, wandered across the vast ocean.
Generation after generation, humans stepped onto their canoes, armed with fish hooks and lines, carrying bananas, cassava, coconuts, and other fruits, accompanied by their domesticated chickens, pigs, and dogs, bringing tools made of obsidian, and departed their homeland without looking back, heading into the vast sea.
Upon discovering a new island, we would pause to develop, and when the time was ripe, we'd set forth from that base on a new expedition.
"We do not know how many were swallowed by the raging waves, how many could not reach the other side even after their last food and water were gone, how many were killed by the ferocious attacks of sharks… but what we can be certain of is that humans have never surrendered, humans have never stopped."
"This is our story—the story of humanity. We should never forget, no matter when or where, that we are fragile and small, yet also resilient and great."
"I am Bi Fang, see you next time in the Sahara."
[Master Fang is awesome!!!]
...
"Without a doubt, this is the Amundsen, Dias, and Magellan of the twenty-first century." — The Pioneer.
"If life is a game, how do you choose to spend your life? Do you stick to the rules and follow the steps, or do you break through boldly and take risks?
What do you consider the most adventurous thing you've done in the years you've lived? What experience and feelings did it bring, and has it changed your life in any unique way?" — World News.
"Those living a mediocre life can only watch indifferently, like the cold horses and farmers by the river, as the ones with melting wings fall from the highest point of the arc, as passion eventually turns into tragedy, deemed by us as futile acts, while only true heroes can feel the gap in their souls yearning for some hidden great things." — The Sun.
The news of Bi Fang crossing Nemo Point flew around the world like a bird with wings, and any reputable non-specialized newspaper could not afford to ignore this news.
At the same time, the honors of being the twenty-first century's Magellan, Amundsen, and others were generously bestowed upon Bi Fang's head.
Several articles even made Bi Fang blush.
"In the book 'Against the Heaven's Adventure,' compiled by South African author William Bolitho, the top eleven adventurers in human history are also recorded, including Emperor Alexander the Great, and the dizzying moments they created take us into the fascinating lives of these natural-born adventurers.
The eleven world-class adventurers are Emperor Alexander the Great, Casanova, Columbus, Lola Montez, Fidel Castro, Charles XII of Sweden, Napoleon I, Caitlyn, Napoleon III, Isadora Duncan, and Woodrow Wilson.
For the course of history, these eleven adventurers have all made significant marks in the long narrative of history; they may have only reigned over the world briefly, but they are challengers against the heaven.
If William Bolitho were alive today in the twenty-first century, instead of having passed away in 1930, I believe the book would not have just eleven chapters, but a full twelve!
As the author says: Adventurous stories are the most vivacious parts of individual and social history.
In the concrete jungle of the twenty-first century, when discussing the most vivacious part, I think no one would forget that man, a presence so intense it's like the blazing sun.
Peaking at over forty million viewers, witnessing the eruption of a submarine volcano live, with a total viewership exceeding five hundred million, it means that nearly one in every fifteen people around the world has witnessed, knows him.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.
If we set aside the third world, would that ratio be higher?
One in ten?
Or even more?
Of course, this number is still increasing, and I can hardly imagine what it's like when almost everyone on the street knows a person.
And the fundamental reason for all this attention is not that he is some major movie star, or that he sings well or acts exceptionally, but stems from his groundbreaking adventures.
Among those in history who have dared to adventure, Columbus's explorations are the most easily recognized—after all, facing the merciless sea and the ever-changing conditions of navigation, Columbus's four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and the discovery of the New World are undoubtedly perilous journeys.
However, since Zheng He's maritime expeditions preceded that of Columbus, Columbus's voyages do not stand out as much amongst this group of elite adventurers.
In fact, these famous historical adventurers all share similarities, such as the era in which they lived, their courage to challenge the status quo, their ambition and ability to seek freedom and power, and so on. They might have employed extreme means and possessed unconventional thinking, but the brilliance they forged is undeniably acknowledged by all.
What they sought was a brand of individualism imbued with the spirit of adventure, a craving for all things novel, precisely as the author states: "Everyone has an adventurer inside them and the necessity to become a member of society—are two incompatible ways of living."
One, is what we yearn for.
The other, is what we must choose.
No matter whether these eleven adventurers were pursuing freedom or power, in some sense, they all benefited society and pushed the progression of history.
Without such daring individuals, the world might have become mundane and endlessly primitive.
"Thanks to Mr. Fang's appearance, the dull human beings of the twenty-first century are reminded of their ancestors' glory and hear the call of courage once again." — Matthew Hall.
Bi Fang pondered the name at the end of the article for a while, finally locating this person in his memory.
A journalist from The Globe who had once traveled alongside him in Ruins City, and even earlier, had written about the Flight of the Geese.
Looking through this person's previous articles, Bi Fang was surprised to discover that this journalist seemed to have become his dedicated reporter, with almost every live broadcast being accompanied by an article full of praise, sometimes even multiple articles.
Most importantly, these articles were anything but low in readership.
Perhaps due to big data recommendations, the more Bi Fang searched, the more his own news flooded in.
There were even a few on B Island who gained popularity as "secondhand dealers" by specializing in making videos about him.
Bi Fang casually clicked on another article and started reading it with relish on the airplane.
Reading such self-aggrandizing articles felt somewhat embarrassing at first, but after getting used to it, it actually felt quite nice.
"To this day, we need not prove the adventurous gene in human nature, but we still cannot summarize a characteristic temperament for those who love adventure.
The key lies in how we view the innate human proclivity for adventure, and how we place our restless spirit of adventure in the context of the times.
Undeniably, the spirit of adventure once propelled human progress.
Just like Master Fang says before the start of each live broadcast, our human ancestors broke free from the shackles of nature, great navigators shattered the limits imposed by geography, and brave aeronauts and astronauts pushed past human boundaries... Every act of adventure brought about a monumental change in the human world, crafting modern civilized society through the efforts of innumerable individuals.
Yet, as the times progress, the spirit of adventure regresses.
In the eyes of many today, the positive aspects of adventure are outweighed by its negative connotations, such as recklessness and radicalism.
But can truly reckless and radical 'adventures' truly be called 'adventures'?
Is an adventure simply a cheap commodity, performed on a whim?
Just look at Mr. Fang's credentials: retired special forces soldier, ranked within top ten in history at Hunter Academy, holder of the highest-level Professional Hunter certificate, a true martial artist with exceptional physical strength and mindset, abundant theoretical knowledge, highly proficient in disciplines such as mathematics, geography, biology, history, astronomy, meteorology, chemistry, materials, and more.
Swimming, rock climbing, hunting, trap skills—he knows them all.
In terms of both body and brain, can one say he is profoundly strong, presenting a vivid contrast to those internet sensations seeking clout?
If the value of the adventurous spirit is deemed valid only over a longer period, then it is bound not to have many followers.
I believe that societal progress is a process of resisting human instincts; the more advanced we become, the deeper this resistance grows.
It goes without saying that technology is constantly breaking through human limitations, and from an ideological perspective, people are increasingly adopting an instrumental rationality.
We can imagine that in an environment of information overload, given that we possess a heightened ability to foresee risks, seeking ways to avoid them is also human nature.
Moreover, the majority's capacity to bear risks has not improved with the times. The perceived costs in their imagination are particularly high, inevitably leading these people to become cautious and rational.
However, human nature is complex, and forbidding people from taking risks sometimes leads to an even more radical eruption.
Many young people have experienced to varying degrees being forced to choose schools and majors they dislike, engaging in undesired jobs, marrying and having children within the so-called 'golden age.'
No matter at what stage the pressure arises, it will always be released at some point, prompting one to undertake a bold 'adventure.'
The times have not changed human nature; as long as the lure is sufficiently enticing, the human instinct for adventure will forever exist.
In summary, modern adventurous spirit is no longer about heroism in the face of the unknown; rather, it has become a struggle against our own instincts.
This is undoubtedly a regret, for it signifies the disappearance of something spectacular.
I sorrow for being born in this era because the heroism in the adventurous spirit is nearly extinct.
Yet, I am grateful to be born in this age because the heroism in the adventurous spirit is not completely gone—that stern spirit endures in figures like Master Fang, injecting a surge of adrenaline into my veins."
Yellow dust fills the sky as the sun blazes fiercely.
The silhouettes of two people and a camel cast long shadows on the sandstone.
Two more days have passed since Bi Fang set foot on the island in South America,
"Ptui."
Accompanied by the sound of gritting sand, a white spit stuck to the rock and quickly evaporated under the high temperature, leaving no trace.
Mugalen led a camel, glanced at Bi Fang's smartphone screen, and couldn't help but spit, "Is this how they blow smoke about you?"
Bi Fang shook his phone, "Aren't you envious?"
"Not in the least."
Bi Fang didn't continue the small talk, "Let's stop here then, hand over the items, and you can leave."
Mugalen sullenly unloaded the items from the camel and dumped them on the ground with a thud.
Besides the usual backpack, there was even a set of reins!
[Note: The above two are a joint mission with a time limit of one hundred and twenty days, the sequence of which can be chosen at will.]
[Note: One of the missions may choose assistance, limited to one person or one beast, with only one mission eligible for selection.]
Bi Fang firmly memorized the System's two notes in his heart; before crossing the Sahara, he would need to capture a wild camel first!
