She Became Rich After Divorce

Chapter 653: Night in the Forest

As she ventured a few steps further, towering trees surrounded her, their broad leaves creating a lush greenery even in the midst of this cold winter.

She soon found herself sweating profusely, not due to exertion, but because the forest floor, still moist from yesterday's rain, caused each step to sink deep into the muddy ground.

Navigating through this terrain was slow-going, taking her about ten minutes to cover just a few hundred meters. Suddenly, an unexpected crunch beneath her foot revealed a hidden swamp beneath a bed of dry leaves.

As she recoiled, white bubbles emerged, accompanied by wisps of white mist and a swarm of wriggling black insects.

Her merciless step had inadvertently claimed several lives, leaving her with a sickening feeling in her gut. Fearing the potential presence of alligators and pythons lurking beneath the water's surface, she began to navigate the swamp, using a branch to slap the water as she made her way forward.

Fortunately, Onistead's climate fell into the subtropical continental monsoon category, which meant that the temperature did not rise significantly even in summer, sparing the swamp from alligators. Most snakes were also in hibernation.

Her only immediate concern was the bone-chilling cold of the winter water, which even multiple layers of clothing couldn't shield her from.

She knew she had to hurry through this marsh, or risk the dangerous chill that could incapacitate her and render her legs useless. The thought of spending the rest of her days confined to a wheelchair spurred her to quicken her pace.

After over three laborious hours, she finally emerged from the swamp, her pants soaked through. She quickly sought out a relatively dry spot to start a fire and dry her clothes before continuing her journey. Choosing a small hillock with dense grass as her temporary camping ground, she prepared to weather the impending rain.

As darkness loomed, she knew she had to set up her hammock and start a fire to stave off the impending cold.

Building a fire in this damp forest would require more effort than usual, but Cheyenne had prepared for the cold, damp winters of this region, ensuring her backpack contained a box of matches and a lighter. Surveying her surroundings, she found damp soil and leaves everywhere, but she managed to gather some pine branches with resin, which ignited easily. The pine resin not only helped start the fire but also emitted a pleasant scent that served to repel insects.

Thanks to her thorough preparation, the process of starting the fire proved relatively straightforward, and soon, a dancing flame of yellow and blue illuminated the darkness of the night.

In the wilderness, a fire was essential-it not only warded off wild animals but also prevented the body from succumbing to frostbite in the cold night, especially in the dead of winter.

As she gazed at the crackling flames, a fleeting smile crossed her face-a silent acknowledgement of her adaptability.

With her burdens cast aside, she began to set up her tent for the night.

Choosing the right location for setting up the tent is crucial. It should be near a water source and preferably in a flat valley.

She pulled out a short knife from her waist and began searching for suitable trees in the forest. After looking around, she finally chose a sturdy pine tree with a wrist-thick trunk. It took a lot of effort to chop down the tree and wedge it between two other trees.

Cheyenne planned to make a hammock because the damp soil not only had moisture but also concealed ants and small scorpions. Getting bitten by them would be disastrous. Once the basic frame was set up, she found some dry vines and skillfully weaved them into a large mat. She sat on it to test its strength.

Good, it didn't break.

She laid a few banana leaves on it and then placed her sleeping bag on top. To be honest, even though sleeping in midair, Cheyenne still didn't feel at ease.

She was afraid that spiders and bugs would crawl down at night, so she decided to curl up inside her sleeping bag.

After solving the problems of fire and accommodation, it was almost dark outside. The forest was eerily quiet at night.

Not even the chirping of birds or the buzzing of cicadas could be heard.

Cheyenne had initially planned to go to the nearby river to see if she could catch a fish for dinner.

She had some food and bread in her backpack, but she didn't know how many days it would take for her to get out of this forest, so she didn't want to use them unless absolutely necessary.

But now it was getting late, and the surroundings were pitch-black. Only a dimly lit corner was visible due to the fire. Cheyenne decided to give up.

She would eat a piece of bread tonight and figure out a way to find food tomorrow.

She only ate half a piece of bread,

took a few sips of mineral water, and then lay down on the hammock to

rest, closing her eyes, preparing to face the challenges of tomorrow.

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However, just as she had dozed off for less than half an hour, Cheyenne woke up abruptly, her eyes widening.

Boom!

That sound-

An explosion!This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

It sounded like thunder booming on the ground. Even from a distance, she could feel the hammock trembling a few times. She was certain she hadn't moved at all.

She wasn't the only one in this forest! Compared to the possible presence of wild animals, this was what Cheyenne was most worried about.

After all, humans were the cruelest, greediest, and most cunning creatures in this world. Her fire would eventually attract attention.

After careful consideration,

Cheyenne decided to extinguish the fire. This way, she could at least ensure that the person hidden in the dark wouldn't discover her presence. The other party also wouldn't know if she was a friend or foe, so she decided to endure for now.

Without fire, even though she was sleeping in her sleeping bag, it was still chilling in the middle of the night.

Cheyenne woke up again. She hadn't slept for long, but she felt as if she had experienced a long century.

Just as she couldn't help but start to wander in her thoughts, she heard the sound of footsteps.

Rustle-

It was the sound of shoes stepping on leaves.

Someone was approaching!

The sound was getting closer, and Cheyenne quickly opened her sleeping bag, picked up her backpack, and fetched a handgun, hiding behind a large tree.

In the darkness, a figure walked closer, moving like a ghost. The man noticed the scattered flames on the ground and let out a cold laugh. "Another lamb walking into the trap, huh?"

As he was feeling proud that he would soon collect the bounty, he didn't notice a petite figure quietly slipping away not far behind him.