Chapter Four: The Law of the Jungle

Too dangerous!

Even after returning to the cave, Lu Chen still felt a lingering sense of fear. Unbidden, a famous line from the novel "The Three-Body Problem" floated through his mind: "In a dark forest, every civilization is an armed hunter, stealthily treading among the trees, gently pushing aside branches, striving to make not a sound, even breathing with the utmost caution... Any life that exposes its existence will soon be wiped out."

The law of the jungle in nature is always bloody, devoid of the slightest warmth or mercy, leaving no room for carelessness or complacency. One misstep, and your life is forfeit.

Survival of the fittest, natural selection, the unfit are eliminated... This is the cruel truth.

If he hadn't carefully observed the shore or if he'd hesitated a half-second while fleeing, he would have become the weasel's meal. And then there was that colossal beast in the lake—the giant snakehead!

Lu Chen was certain that creature had noticed him and had even considered him prey, only changing its target to the weasel because it was larger.

He had to grow stronger, and fast! Living each day in constant mortal danger, never knowing if he would see the next sunrise, left Lu Chen with not a shred of security. He yearned to become powerful, to seize control of his own fate.

Looking at the 1.2 energy points he had accumulated, he set aside some for daily needs and invested the remainder into his claw strength.

As for his fellow crocodile hatchlings, he couldn't let them get off too easily either. When the individual is weak, group strength must be harnessed. Even their digging was a form of physical training.

***

The sun was shining brilliantly once again.

As the temperature rose, Lu Chen immediately roused the three young crocodiles from the cave to resume digging.

“Hiss, hiss…” The largest croc growled, its tone full of protest. Clearly, after yesterday’s exhausting labor, it had no wish to mindlessly dig any longer. All it wanted was to bask in the sun somewhere unobstructed.

As the saying goes in human society, “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” After just two days, signs of rebellion had already reappeared!

Seeing the big croc resist, the other two little ones looked on with excitement, clearly anticipating the scene. The answer, as always, was simple: discipline. If they don’t listen, discipline again, until they submit!

Lu Chen pushed off the ground with all four limbs, launching himself like a cannonball. With his enhanced strength, his charge was even more powerful. The big croc barely had time to react before being knocked over.

Lu Chen’s eyes glinted with menace and intent to kill. He opened his jaws wide and, before the big croc could move, clamped his sharp teeth around its throat.

Though he was still smaller in size, the repeated investment of energy points had made him vastly superior in terms of strength—a complete mismatch.

Right now, all he had to do was bite down hard. Even if he couldn’t kill the big croc, he could inflict serious injury. In the wild, an injured animal often loses its ability to hunt, which means death.

Survival instinct screamed in the big croc’s mind: If I keep resisting, Third Brother will kill me.

“Hiss, hiss… whimper…” The big croc hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

In truth, Lu Chen had never intended to kill it. Everything he had just done was simply to maintain his position as leader. As a baby crocodile with little ability to protect himself, he needed the group’s strength to survive. Turning on his own kind now would be sheer folly.

This one was a troublemaker, but for now, also a useful helper—at least someone to stand guard while he slept.

With the big croc subdued, the other two, though reluctant, dared not disobey, and could only toil away obediently.

After an hour’s hard work, with most of his strength spent, Lu Chen decisively called a halt.

Soon after, the four young crocodiles lined up and made their way toward the lake to forage. Lu Chen, still acting as the caretaker, kept a sharp eye on the sky and the grass for any sign of danger.

Fortunately, luck was with them that day—no predators appeared.

Late spring turning to early summer was frog breeding season, and tadpoles swarmed the water’s edge. It didn’t take long before they found another group.

Having spent so much energy digging, the three little ones were famished. At the sight of food, they scrambled into the shallows, snapping up tadpoles with their long jaws.

As for Lu Chen, he remained alert, scanning the water for movement. Only after confirming the giant snakehead was not nearby did he relax slightly and scurry over to the trap he’d set the night before, checking for any new catches.

But it was empty, with no sign of the worm bait either.

He must have come too late—the prey had eaten the bait and escaped.

With no other choice, Lu Chen resumed his search for food. He was utterly sick of tadpoles—he’d rather starve than eat another.

Soon enough, he spotted a frog not far off. Delighted, he crept closer under cover of thick grass, silent as a shadow.

Before pouncing, he instinctively checked the sky and his surroundings. Only when he was sure there was no danger did he leap.

“Quack-quack!” The frog let out a shrill, desperate cry—then went silent.

Lu Chen opened his jaws wide and swallowed it whole.

Then he returned to his companions, imitating their posture as he sunned himself in the grass, digesting his meal.

That one frog provided him with 0.3 energy points. At least for the next half day, hunger would not be a concern.

For Lu Chen, nothing was more blissful than basking by the water, well fed.

Butterflies danced in the breeze, which caressed him into such comfort and laziness that his eyes nearly closed of their own accord...

Rustle, rustle!

A faint sound came from nearby.

Lu Chen snapped awake and turned his head, only to find the source was the big croc.

What was this fellow up to, sneaking away after a beating? Trying to leave the group and strike out alone?

Curious, he did not call out at once.

He watched as the big croc quietly crawled toward a bent willow tree not far off. It reached out a forepaw, hooked onto the bark, braced its tail, and kicked with its hind legs. Like an oversized gecko, it clung firmly to the trunk, then continued climbing with its forepaws.

What on earth was going on here?

A crocodile, climbing a tree!?

To quote Mr. Lu Xun: “This world has gone mad—mice are bridesmaids for cats!”

Lu Chen was dumbfounded—the big croc was actually climbing the tree!

Could it be that the big croc also had a system, or was it some kind of mutation?

Then, a memory surfaced from deep within his mind: saltwater crocodiles naturally know how to climb trees.

Surprising? Unexpected?

This memory overturned everything he’d known about saltwater crocs in his past life. Though they spend most of their time in water and seem slow and clumsy, they are far more agile than people imagine—born climbers.

What Lu Chen didn’t know was that not only saltwater crocs, but almost all crocodiles can climb trees. This remarkable skill has been passed down in their bloodlines, perhaps the most precious gift from their ancient ancestors.

The big croc slowly climbed the willow and settled on a broad side branch, belly pressed to the bark, limbs sprawled out in utter comfort.

For a moment, Lu Chen felt a tinge of envy and curiosity.

Maybe he should try it too.

With that thought, he woke the other two little crocodiles.