BDSMST -Chapter 123 Gu Yan’s Wilderness Survival Skills

Following Wei Ziqian, the group walked to the cave entrance. A thick smell rushed toward them—sweet yet rotten at the same time.

Before them lay an even larger underground space. But unlike the previous cavern, there were no strange stalactites here—only an endless black swamp bubbling with colorful bubbles. Whenever those bubbles burst, they released a yellow-green gas that lingered in the air, forming a dense layer of poisonous miasma.

A bat suddenly flew in from somewhere. It merely skimmed the edge of the miasma before all its strength seemed to vanish. It fell straight into the swamp and disappeared without even creating a splash.

“It’s Bone-Dissolving Miasma!” Bai Yutang’s face turned extremely grim as he stared at the swamp. “My family’s ancient texts mention it. This is the most formidable natural barrier surrounding Medicine King Valley. The miasma is not only extremely poisonous but also highly corrosive. If a person inhales it, their lungs and organs will dissolve into blood within the time it takes to burn one stick of incense.”

Everyone’s faces turned pale.

“Do the texts mention a way to break through it?” Gu Yan asked.

“Yes.” Bai Yutang gave a bitter smile. “The book says that in the center of the swamp grows a plant called Dragon’s Breath Grass, the only thing capable of countering the Bone-Dissolving Miasma. But… to obtain Dragon’s Breath Grass, one must first cross this miasma. It’s an unsolvable deadlock.”

Silence fell over the group. Had their expedition reached its end already?

“Perhaps… I have a way.” Jiang Suisui suddenly spoke.

From her emergency kit she took out a water pouch and several pieces of clean cotton cloth. She poured water from the pouch onto the cloths until they were completely soaked.

“Cover your nose and mouth with these.”

She handed the wet cloths to everyone.

“Madam… this…” Wei Ziqian hesitated.

“Trust me.” Jiang Suisui said only two words.

Gu Yan didn’t hesitate at all. He took a cloth and covered his face with it first. He knew his wife well—she never acted without confidence. He had also witnessed the miraculous effects of that water before.

With Gu Yan taking the lead, the others followed suit.

The moment the wet cloth covered their noses and mouths, a cool, sweet fragrance seeped into their lungs. To their surprise, the nauseating smell of the miasma was completely blocked out. They cautiously stepped closer to the swamp’s edge. Their breathing remained smooth, with no discomfort at all.

“This… this water?” Bai Yutang looked at the pouch in Jiang Suisui’s hand, his eyes filled with shock and sudden understanding. He knew this must be the legendary spiritual spring water connected to the mysterious “Master of the Spring.”

The breathing problem had been solved, but an even bigger challenge remained.

How were they supposed to cross the swamp?

The black mud looked terrifying, and no one knew what dangers lurked beneath it.

Just as everyone was at a loss, Gu Yan stepped forward again.

He said nothing, simply walking back and forth along the edge of the swamp several times. Sometimes he crouched to observe the moisture of the soil; other times he looked up to study the rock formations on the cavern ceiling and the direction of airflow. His gaze was sharp and focused, like a beast surveying its territory.

After a long while, he returned to the group and issued an unquestionable command.

“We’ll go over it.”

He pointed to the solid rock walls above the swamp and the stalactites hanging down.

“Wei Ziqian, take three men back to the cavern we passed earlier and cut down those petrified trees. We’ll need a large amount of strong wood.”

“Bai Yutang, you and Ling’er figure out where we should build the bridge so it’ll be the safest and most efficient.”

“The rest of you—rest here and check your equipment.”

Once the orders were given, the team immediately sprang into action.

This was Gu Yan’s way of survival. On the battlefield and in desperate situations, one should never rely on miracles. Instead, one must use their own hands and every available resource to create a path to survival.

Soon, Wei Ziqian and the others returned, dragging several petrified logs as hard as iron back to the swamp.

Under Gu Yan’s command, a massive bridge-building project began in the underground world.

Using the grappling-hook launcher, they anchored ropes to the rock walls on both sides, first creating a simple overhead cable line. Then they hoisted the petrified logs one by one over the swamp, using ropes and iron fittings to assemble a suspended wooden walkway.

The process demanded tremendous skill and physical strength. Gu Yan personally joined in. Like a nimble ape, he moved back and forth along the ropes, directing every detail.

Gu Xuan watched his father’s agile movements and calm leadership with eyes full of admiration. Unable to help much, he focused on learning everything he could.

During breaks in the construction, Gu Yan would call his son over.

“Look at the water dripping from that rock wall,” he said, pointing to an inconspicuous corner. “The droplets are clear, and there’s no moss or water stains around them. That means it’s flowing spring water—you can drink it directly.”

“And those white mushrooms with red spots on the caps—remember them. They’re highly poisonous. But the gray ones growing beside them are edible. They grow together.”

He didn’t preach grand theories. Instead, he quietly passed on the knowledge that could keep someone alive in desperate situations.

The construction continued for an entire day.

By nightfall, they had finally built a suspended walkway more than thirty meters long above the swamp. It was crude, but strong enough for the team to cross safely.

Everyone was exhausted, yet their faces were filled with the joy of success.

Just as the group prepared to cross the walkway, something unexpected happened.

The black swamp below suddenly began to churn violently.

A huge head covered in black scales burst out of the mud. The creature resembled a crocodile, but it was several times larger. Its murky eyes glowed with bloodthirsty red light.

It opened its massive jaws and let out a deafening roar before slamming its enormous body into one of the walkway’s supporting pillars.

Crack!

The pillar snapped instantly. The entire walkway shook violently.

“Everyone, fall back!” Gu Yan roared, forcefully pushing Jiang Suisui and Gu Xuan behind him.

He himself drew the saber from his waist and stood firmly at the very front of the shaking walkway, facing the charging beast.

“Wei Ziqian, form a defensive formation! Protect Madam and the Young Marquis!”

His voice rang out clearly through the roaring underground cavern, instantly calming everyone’s panic.

Alone, with his blade in hand, Gu Yan stood tall—facing the terrifying beast rising from the abyss.