Chapter 1073: New Hobby
"That thing is way too big, looks like a jellyfish." Chi Minghong complained, then turned back to ask the others, "Has anyone seen something like this before?"
Ruan Qiyan thought for a moment and said, "I think I've seen it."
As he spoke, he took out an illustrated book. After searching through the table of contents, the book automatically flipped to a certain page, displaying a mechanical insect.
"This book collects the manufacturing methods of various mechanical insects. The prototype of this insect spits out giant bubbles during courtship, which look a bit like jellyfish."
"This poisonous insect has a violent toxicity, classified as B-grade poison. If it's in the middle of mating, it can even reach A-grade classification. But after the bubbles are detoxified, they can be used as water lungs. Because of their beautiful appearance, they are popular with tourists. So they've become extinct in many districts. I didn't expect there to be so many here!"
"What does 'so many' mean?" Zhou Yuanzhu's goosebumps stood up. "Wasn't there just one bubble a moment ago?"
"He means this insect is social." Xu Huo took over the conversation, then asked again, "What is this insect called?"
"Land Jellyfish." Ruan Qiyan understood his meaning. "Its reproductive ability is very strong. If it's the mating season, it means this is exactly their habitat. There are at least a few hundred in this area."
"It can't fly, can it?" Chi Minghong was more concerned about practical issues.
"It can." Ruan Qiyan's bangs had long since fallen down. Staring at her through his hair, he said gloomily, "If you're unlucky enough to provoke a Land Jellyfish that's courting or mating, they will swarm and chase after people to sting, just like bees."
"I have a protective suit, I'm fearless!" Chi Minghong lowered the face shield she had opened earlier for ventilation.
Xu Huo had already looked up the information on Land Jellyfish. After reading it, he said, "It's not a troublesome insect. They are more active at night and dormant during the day. And as long as you don't invade their territory, they won't actively attack people."
"There are jellyfish over there too!" Someone pointed in another direction.
"It seems we've already penetrated deep into their territory..." Zhou Yuanzhu couldn't help but say, "Is insect repellent useful..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Xu Huo take out two insect-catching nets.
The people around had mixed expressions. Including Uncle Guan, all the players had been carefully on guard after learning this was a highly venomous insect, trying to avoid touching the thing. Why was he looking at it with such interest and taking out insect-catching nets? What use was catching this thing?
Even if he wanted to use it as a hidden weapon, it's not like the insect would do whatever he wanted!
Xu Huo broke through the prop barrier with his bare hands and released the insect-catching nets he had just bought. The nets came with built-in bait, and one end also had a small insect box, which could directly raise the insects.
"Old Xu, I never knew you, with your honest-looking face, had this kind of hobby." Chi Minghong stood behind him and said, "But you have to be careful. I've seen people who raised venomous snakes end up poisoning themselves to death. That was a player too."
"Thanks for the concern." Xu Huo expressed his gratitude.
Actually, the others were more worried that he might provoke the insect swarm and cause unnecessary trouble, but no one stepped forward to stop him.
Fortunately, it was over in less than half an hour. The two insect-catching nets successfully caught thirty-eight Land Jellyfish.
Insects the size of a little finger, with pitch-black, shiny bodies that looked quite beautiful. But one of them released a bubble, which couldn't fit inside the small box, squeezing all the other insects against the glass, like flies on flypaper.
After the bubble disappeared, the twenty or so Land Jellyfish inside went crazy flying around.
"There's a hole here, it won't come out, will it?" Zhou Yuanzhu pointed to the side of the box.
"That's an air valve." Ruan Qiyan said, "The insects can't get out."
"That's good." Zhou Yuanzhu was a bit curious and asked, "Brother Xu, are you planning to use this to make a potion?"
"Not making a potion, just raising them for fun." Xu Huo said. Although he sometimes made potions, it was almost always simple and crude mixing and diluting, not refined or specialized. He planned to use this thing to feed the King Fungus.
Putting the insect box into the luggage compartment, he said, "With these insects, other xenomorphs probably won't come near. We can get a good rest."
You Xuewen took out a large tent and laid it on the ground. "This cloth can repel insects."
"Won't there be xenomorphs that dig holes?" Someone nearby asked.
"Generally not. These mutant animals all have their own territories." Ruan Qiyan said, "Under normal circumstances, they don't interfere with each other."
Anyway, insects were easier to deal with than large xenomorphs.
The cleared area wasn't big enough, so Xu Huo placed the shelter in the grass beside them. He took the number tags and bracelets from Tan Qi and the infant, then let them inside to rest. He sat on top to keep watch.
"Uncle, can you let me in too?" The girl who had been hidden in the painting walked over, looking pitiful. "I'm not hungry at all right now, I definitely won't bite anyone anymore!"
Xu Huo glanced at her and the two teenagers behind her, then looked away, only saying, "Go back to sleep. Don't make noise."
The few of them were very disappointed, but they obediently went back, curling up among the adults, dozing off while trying hard to stay awake.
Xu Huo noticed that the girl who had been in the painting seemed hungrier than the others. He didn't know if it was because she had come here already hungry, or if the container prop had produced unpredictable side effects.
But either way, the shelter couldn't let her in... and the painting was out of the question too.
Everyone had rested for about an hour when a new situation arose. An older man, unbearably hungry, secretly reached out to pull grass from outside to eat. Unfortunately, he accidentally ate a Land Jellyfish. As he convulsed from the poison, he bit someone who came to help. By the time Ruan Qiyan and the others came to restrain him, the first poisoned man was already dead. The one who was bitten was lucky to have thick clothes and survived, but was badly shaken.
When they fell from District 002, there were over fifty people alive. Now there were only fourteen left. Surviving several narrow escapes in a row didn't make the lucky survivors feel grateful; instead, it left them with only despair. They had survived these times, but countless dangers still awaited them. They didn't know what form the next crisis would take, or where they would die, or how... This endless feeling was pushing them to the edge of madness!
"Kill me. I don't want to live anymore..." A woman covered her face and wept.
The others weren't much better off. A day without food couldn't starve people to the point of being sallow and emaciated, but in extreme environments, it was enough to make them haggard.
"Why not just give us a quick death!" Another woman went to grab the dagger at Zhou Yuanzhu's waist. "Since we're just a burden to you anyway, kill us and you can eat two more mouthfuls!"
(Chapter End)