I Conquer the Entertainment Industry with My Medical Skills - Chapter 41

An Ningqing had fallen asleep.

The livestream viewers erupted in a frenzy.

Sister An just mentioned some kind of balm. Is it really that miraculous?

Did Lu Lu get poisoned into unconsciousness?

Poison? Don’t be ridiculous! In front of all these viewers, An Ningqing would be throwing her life away! Deliberately giving us evidence against her? What kind of idiot would do that?

Waaah, instant sleep! I’m so jealous! Who understands the pain of insomnia? Nights upon nights of sleeplessness, clumps of hair falling out… I think I’m about to become depressed.

Me too! +1

OMG, does a balm like this really exist? One that’s harmless and puts you to sleep instantly?

My precious Lu Lu tested it himself, and it works! Apparently, it smells amazing too. Waaah, I’m drooling with envy.

Requesting a purchase link!

Seconded!

With nothing more to see in An Ningqing’s livestream, viewers dispersed. Some continued discussing the miraculous calming balm that had knocked Lu Lu out cold, while others migrated to other livestreams to watch the remaining guests’ adventures. None of the others had been as fortunate as An Ningqing, except for Xi Jingya, who had also secured a tent.

Xi Jingya and Jiang Tian, being both girls, shared a tent. But at the slightest rustle outside, Jiang Tian would unzip the tent and peek out. They had lit a campfire, its crackling flames dispelling some of the fear in her heart.

“Sister Ya, do you think there really are wolves here?”

“I don’t know.”

Xi Jingya wasn’t used to being so close to others, especially while sleeping. She decided to leave the tent, found a spot to sit, and wrapped her arms around herself, staring blankly into the fire. “If you’re really worried about wolves, I’ll keep watch for a while. You go get some sleep, and then we can switch—you keep watch, and I’ll sleep.”

Jiang Tian felt embarrassed, after all, she was using Xi Jingya’s tent. But she was also hungry, tired, and scared. If she didn’t sleep well tonight, they’d both suffer even more tomorrow. “Then you have to wake me up later, Sister Ya.”

Xi Jingya nodded.

As time passed, the campfire dwindled. Xi Jingya tossed another branch into the flames, her eyelids beginning to droop.

“Aaaaaah!”

Jiang Tian’s sudden scream startled Xi Jingya awake and sent a jolt through the viewers in the live stream. The night owls watching were instantly alert.

“What’s happening?”

“Sister Ya, something bit me.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Tian’s face crumpled into a miserable expression. She had just drifted off to sleep when she felt something crawling on her neck. She immediately reached up to brush it away, but a sharp pain shot through her neck. Her fingers closed around a bug—her greatest fear. Instinctively, she flung it away. “It wasn’t a mosquito, it was a bug. Sister Ya, can you check my neck?”

By the flickering firelight, Xi Jingya noticed a distinct bite mark on Jiang Tian’s neck. “It looks swollen here.”

Jiang Tian scratched at it, but the more she scratched, the itch intensified, driving her to scratch even harder. She couldn’t control her hand.

“Stop scratching! You’ll tear your neck open. You’ve already scratched it raw.”

“It’s so itchy!”

“Do you know what bit you?”

“I couldn’t see clearly.”

It was pitch-black inside the tent. How could she possibly see?

Jiang Tian was on the verge of tears. “Why are there bugs in the tent? Didn’t you spray mosquito repellent earlier, Sister Ya?”

Xi Jingya fell silent.

Isn’t it normal to find bugs in the wilderness?

“The swelling’s getting worse.”

“It’s so itchy! I’m going to itch to death!”

In just a few minutes, the red spot on Jiang Tian’s neck had rapidly expanded, now bulging like a steamed bun. The skin around the bite had darkened, making the whole thing look quite alarming.

Holy sh1t, this is making my whole body itch!

Stop scratching! You’re going to tear your skin off!

I bet she got bitten by a centipede. Some of those things are seriously venomous.

Same tent, but Sister An’s side is all peaceful and dreamy, while Ya Ya’s side is already in chaos before she’s even settled in. Talk about a brutal contrast!

An An sprinkled herbs both inside and outside the tent to repel insects. I remember there was mugwort and some kind of stinky grass.

Xi Jingya suddenly suggested, “Let’s go find An An.”

Jiang Tian’s neck wasn’t just itching anymore; her whole body was on fire. The more she scratched, the angrier she got. This godforsaken place! Not only can’t we get enough to eat, but even some tiny bug is bullying me! “What?!”

“An An can definitely tell what bit you and treat it.”

“Sister Ya, are you trying to get us killed?”

Xi Jingya froze.

Jiang Tian frowned and continued, “Have you forgotten Ni Hao, who got eliminated today? We still don’t know how it happened. What if An Ningqing and the others teamed up to take him out? Going to her now would be like delivering our heads on a silver platter.”

Xi Jingya didn’t believe An Ningqing would do such a thing, but she remained silent, letting Jiang Tian scratch her neck until it bled. “Are you still going to sleep?”

Jiang Tian couldn’t even remember where she’d thrown the bug. The thought of insects crawling around in the tent made her skin crawl. “I can’t sleep now. I’m too freaked out. You go ahead, Sister Ya. I’ll keep watch tonight.”

Xi Jingya nodded. She pulled out the last of her mosquito repellent and sprayed it in the corners of the tent and twice on herself. Then she took out her night light and inspected the tent thoroughly. Finding nothing suspicious, she curled up and forced herself to close her eyes.

If I get bitten like Jiang Tian tonight…

I’ll confront An Ningqing.

And if Jiang Tian doesn’t want to come with me, maybe it’s time for us to part ways.

Meanwhile, Ji Yang, who had eliminated his own teammate, was leaning against a tree trunk, snoring loudly enough to be heard through the screen by viewers. Seeing his carefree attitude, the eliminated Ni Hao was so furious he nearly crushed his phone.

My five million!

To think I’d be eliminated by someone like that.

Chen Cheng and Zhao Hui were still chatting idly by the campfire. Chen Cheng had a small blanket, similar to Lu Lu’s but a different color. She had tried sleeping wrapped in it, but the ground was too uncomfortable. “Brother Hui, how do you think Ni Hao got eliminated?”

Zhao Hui, being a regular guest, had more experience than the newcomers. “Probably the other two groups teamed up to eliminate him. Ji Yang either joined forces with An Ningqing and her group, or he managed to escape them by luck. But it doesn’t matter whether they’re working together or split up—it’s our turn to make a move next.”

Chen Cheng, remembering Xi Jingya and An Ningqing’s close relationship, agreed that a team-up was the most likely scenario. “So what do we do now? They have four people. They’ll definitely try to eliminate us first.”

Zhao Hui’s expression turned grave. “We might have to split up tomorrow.”

“Huh?” Chen Cheng asked.

Zhao Hui looked her up and down several times. “Go to them and say you want to team up to eliminate me.”

Chen Cheng stared at him, utterly bewildered.

Lu Lu spent a sleepless night.

He opened his eyes, groggily gazing at the sun blazing overhead. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, making it almost impossible to keep his eyes open. The air was filled with the crisp, melodious chirping of birds, their chatter sounding like a heated morning meeting—a particularly contentious one at that.

Unable to bear the noise any longer, Lu Lu covered his ears and rolled over. The movement sent him tumbling to the ground, the earthy fragrance of the soil instantly snapping him awake.

How did I fall asleep?

The wolves! What about the wolves?

“Sister An!”

“What is it?”

An Ningqing had already boiled a pot of water. She had been busy all morning, starting with her morning routine: washing up, brushing her teeth with salt, rinsing her mouth with tea leaves, and then sitting by the river to comb her hair. Afterward, she gathered medicinal herbs and foraged for berries near the tent, snacking on wild greens and berries to stave off hunger.

Everything proceeded with methodical efficiency, as if she had always lived in this wilderness. Compared to the other group’s hysterical frenzy, An Ningqing’s composure remained remarkably steady.

“I made some vegetable soup. Have some fruit with it, and that’ll be our breakfast.” As she finished speaking, she remembered something and added, “I made you a slingshot out of boredom earlier. You can try using it today to see if you can hit anything. Whether we get a special lunch today depends entirely on you.”

“!!!”

“Sister An, you’re my goddess!”

“……”

Due to limited materials, the slingshot was made from woven fish intestines. An Ningqing didn’t think it was very sturdy; it might break after just a few uses if he pulled too hard. She warned Lu Lu, but he was already deliriously happy, running around the tree like a parkour enthusiast. “Sister An, did you ever shoot birds when you were little? I remember being so jealous of kids who had slingshots when I was little. My mom wouldn’t let me play with one. Heh, now I finally have one!”

“I have a slingshot now!”

Then he sprinted off to test his aim.

Whoosh!

A pebble shot toward a bird perched in the tree, missing its target and startling two birds into flight. The remaining birds on the branches glanced at him mockingly before continuing to preen each other affectionately, completely ignoring him.

Lu Lu grumbled, “Just wait, I’ll definitely hit it this time!”

Whoosh!

Another pebble landed short.

An Ningqing ignored him. After the water in the pot had cooled, she poured it into a kettle. Then, she washed the medicinal herbs she might need and laid them out to dry on the riverbank stones.

Ah, I looked it up—she’s drying medicinal herbs! She really knows medicine!

What a peaceful scene.

My wife is so capable! She’s already finished all her chores for the morning, unlike that lazy son of mine who sleeps until noon.

Jiang Tian and Sister Ya are practically out of the game. Yesterday, Sister Ya told her to find An An, but she refused. Now she’s delirious with fever, and Sister Ya’s ankle is swollen, so she can’t even take care of her. It’s so frustrating!

Haha, no need to deliver a free kill—they’re eliminating themselves!

Suddenly, my stupid son is really getting on my nerves. Get him out of the frame! Sister An deserves all the spotlight.

Lu Lu is such a goofball. I can’t even watch anymore, it’s too embarrassing.

Ahhh! Help! Chen Cheng is about to find Brother Ji! Brother Ji’s in danger!

Compared to the other three groups’ leisurely approaches to survival, Chen Cheng and Zhao Hui stood out with their ambition. They had chosen to take the offensive, and were currently heading towards An Ningqing’s location, but they were about to encounter Ji Yang along the way.

Ji Yang had spent the night sleeping in a tree. To his surprise, he had discovered a large supply box containing two loaves of bread, two packs of instant noodles, a cup of water, and a bottle of milk. Ji Yang stared in disbelief. “My luck has finally returned!”

That morning, he had happily devoured the two loaves of bread and the bottle of milk, enjoying his solitary feast.

“Help! Help me!”

“Hmm? Who’s there?”

“Brother Ji, it’s me!”

Chen Cheng limped towards him, and Ji Yang recognized her immediately. As soon as she reached him, she began complaining, “Zhao Hui is such a jerk! I twisted my ankle, and he just abandoned me, taking all my supplies. Brother Ji, I’m starving! Do you have anything I can eat?”

Ji Yang did have supplies, but he wasn’t about to give them away so easily. They weren’t teammates, and they barely knew each other. He chuckled heartily. “I’m afraid I was planning to trade these with someone else. Do you have anything you’d like to trade?”

Chen Cheng’s hopeful expression instantly darkened, inwardly cursing Ji Yang for being so stingy. Her tried-and-true act of feigned weakness had always melted the hearts of men, yet Ji Yang was suggesting a trade for supplies. Was this man made of stone?

“No, Zhao Hui robbed me of all my supplies. He didn’t leave me anything.”

To make her lie more convincing, she played up her misery. This was the plan she and Zhao Hui had agreed upon—the more pitiful she seemed, the more sympathy she’d get.

Ji Yang looked genuinely sympathetic. “Can you still walk on that leg?”

Chen Cheng shook her head. “What am I going to do, Brother Ji? I’m so hungry I can barely move.”

Ji Yang couldn’t help but offer a suggestion. “That’s a real shame. The rest of the journey requires walking. With your leg injured, you won’t be able to continue. Why not withdraw voluntarily? The production team will send someone to pick you up, so you won’t have to walk anymore.”

Chen Cheng: “!!?”

What had she just heard?

She understood each word individually, but when strung together, they made no sense.

Chen Cheng’s expression nearly cracked. Viewers who knew her true intentions were about to lose it laughing.

Ji Yang continued to reassure her, “Don’t worry too much. There’ll be other chances.”

Chen Cheng: “No, this was the only chance I fought so hard for, Brother Ji. Please, help me.”

Ji Yang sighed. “I really want to help you.”

Chen Cheng’s heart leaped with hope, but then he continued, “But there’s really no way. An An warned me not to push myself too hard, especially with my back. So I can’t carry you.”

Chen Cheng stared at him, speechless.

An Ningqing. It was always An Ningqing.

Why was she everywhere?

Chen Cheng was furious. “Are you stupid? An Ningqing telling you not to overwork yourself is just a trick to keep you from competing for first place! And you actually believe her? You’re really willing to just hand over five million yuan to someone else? Stunt work can’t pay that well, Brother Ji.”

Ji Yang gave her a deep, searching look.

Chen Cheng thought she had finally gotten through to him and was about to continue her impassioned plea.

Suddenly, Zhao Hui lunged at Ji Yang from the side. To everyone’s surprise, Ji Yang nimbly dodged the attack.

Chen Cheng’s jaw dropped as she watched the two men grapple.

Zhao Hui yelled, “What are you standing there for? Help—” me!

Ji Yang has been eliminated.

Zhao Hui has been eliminated.

Chen Cheng was completely stunned.

Zhao Hui was equally dumbfounded. Ji Yang patted him on the shoulder in consolation. “Sorry, brother. My back was already so stiff I could barely move, but I somehow managed to pull off that grappling technique. Heh, what do you think of my move?”

Zhao Hui: “……”

The staff quickly escorted the two eliminated contestants away.

Lu Lu shot down a bird with his slingshot. Hearing the elimination announcement, he whipped around to An Ningqing. “What happened? How did Brother Ji get eliminated too?”

An Ningqing: “I don’t know.”

Xi Jingya and Jiang Tian were equally clueless. Jiang Tian’s face was flushed, and she felt dizzy and disoriented. She needed half an hour of rest for every ten minutes of walking. Xi Jingya fetched cold water to try to cool her down. Once Jiang Tian was a bit more lucid, Xi Jingya asked urgently, “Do you still want to keep going?”

Jiang Tian nodded vigorously.

Xi Jingya paused, then showed Jiang Tian her swollen ankle. “I twisted my ankle yesterday, and it’s gotten worse today.”

Jiang Tian: “……”

There was no hope in sight.

Xi Jingya continued, “I might not be able to take you with me. I need to find An An—she’s a doctor and might be able to treat my leg. So, what are your plans?”

Jiang Tian was incredulous. “You’re just going to hand yourself over?”

Xi Jingya paused. “…If that’s how you want to see it, fine.”

The two parted on bad terms.

Xi Jingya found a stick to use as a crutch and limped away.

Jiang Tian has been eliminated.

Lu Lu exclaimed, “!!!”

He was still amazed every time he heard it.

It felt like they weren’t even on the same show. As he plucked bird feathers, Lu Lu said, “Sister An, look! Every other team has had someone eliminated. Brother Ji’s team got hit the worst. Wait, now it looks like only Sister Ya and Chen Cheng are left.”

He hadn’t realized it until he counted, and the shock hit him hard.

Their competition had dwindled to just two people.

How could this be happening?

Lu Lu started grinning foolishly. “Hehe, Sister An, am I about to win by default?”

An Ningqing replied, “…Process those two fish over there too.”

The elimination of four contestants didn’t faze An Ningqing. She decided that after lunch, they should move on. They had already gathered most of the fruits and herbs in the area, and if they didn’t want to starve, they needed to find a new place to camp for the night.

She shared her plan with Lu Lu.

Lu Lu didn’t object at all. He was busy flipping the fish over the fire. “As long as we stick with Sister An, we’ll have food to eat.”

The two ate two fish, a bird, and several pieces of fruit. After finishing, they began cleaning up the remains. An Ningqing directed Lu Lu, “Put out the fire. Bury the bones and bl00d with dirt. Throw those grass leaves in too.”

Lu Lu pinched his nose. “Sister An, what are these leaves? They stink!”

An Ningqing replied, “They’re useful. They repel insects and have medicinal properties, though they’re poisonous.”

Lu Lu’s hand trembled in fear. He immediately kicked the remaining leaves into the pit with his foot, then ran to the riverbank to frantically wash his hands, still feeling a lingering stench in his palms.

After tidying up, they shouldered their supplies and headed east again.

They hadn’t gone far when Chen Cheng arrived, but she was too late. Seeing the fire pit extinguished with water and the newly filled pit nearby, she guessed it was An Ningqing and Lu Lu.

But she was alone.

Eliminating both of them seemed like a challenge.

Chen Cheng had initially joined the show to expose An Ningqing’s true nature, but now she’d changed her mind. She wanted to compete for first place and claim the five million yuan prize—it was already within reach.

Who would pass up that kind of money?

All she needed to do was eliminate Lu Lu and An Ningqing. As for Xi Jingya, she’d never been a real threat.