American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 322 The Dangers of the Jungle (Seeking monthly votes~~)

Less than half a meter in front of his palm, a seemingly ordinary dead branch was wrapped with a living dead branch!
It was a venomous snake, its body a withered yellowish-brown, dotted with irregular black spots on its sides. Its triangular head was slightly raised, with its two small cheek pits facing his palm. Its cold, vertical pupils stared at him, the intruder, without any emotion.

"Iron tip." The muscles of the entire body tensed up instantly, and then completely relaxed in a fraction of a second, maintaining absolute stillness.

He lowered his voice and said to the camera, "It's a pity we can't eat it. The pit viper is a protected animal in China. Although it is not a first- or second-class protected animal, according to China's Wildlife Protection Law, any act of actively hunting a protected animal is illegal."

"More importantly, it is one of the top ten venomous snakes in China, a typical ambush hunter with an extremely strong ability to camouflage. Its venom is a mixed venom, with both hemotoxic and neurotoxic properties. Being bitten by it here is basically the end of the challenge."

Lin Yu'an did not retreat, because any sudden movement could trigger its attack. He could only remain still, engaging in a silent standoff with this embodiment of death.

You can even clearly see the forked tip of the snake's tongue trembling slightly in the air, collecting its scent information.

A few seconds later, the iron-headed creature seemed to determine that the motionless tree stump posed no threat, or rather, it was not interested in its enormous size.

Then it slowly retracted its head, its body like a flowing shadow, silently sliding into the thick layer of fallen leaves, disappearing as if it had never existed.

Lin Yu'an finally let out a long breath, feeling that the quick-drying T-shirt on his back was instantly soaked with a layer of cold sweat.

"Welcome to Ailao Mountain!" he said in a hoarse voice to the camera.

This terrifying moment, more so than any elaborate opening, better conveys the danger and wildness of this hidden realm.

He continued downwards with lingering fear, each step more cautious than the last, his eyes constantly scanning every inch of ground beneath his feet and every vine he was about to grasp.

During the descent, his eyes, like radar, constantly scanned everything around him, conducting efficient resource scanning and strategic stockpiling.

“Look here,” he suddenly stopped and pointed the camera at a peculiar plant growing in the shade of a tree. The plant’s stem was covered with a layer of golden fuzz, like the back of a monkey.

"Aha! This is Cibotium barometz, an ancient fern. Its downy hairs are an excellent hemostatic agent and also a very good kindling. I need to collect some to prepare for fires tonight and in the future."

I gathered a handful of golden fluff, wrapped it in a large leaf, and put it in the side pocket of my trousers.

His gaze was soon drawn to a huge, rotten, fallen tree trunk. On it grew clusters of mushrooms, layer upon layer, like clouds.

Lin Yu'an squatted down. "Golden ear fungus, non-toxic, emergency food. But more importantly, this kind of rotten wood, once completely dried, is an excellent material for making fireboard. I need to remember this location."

He didn't pick any for the time being, but instead used a peculiar tree nearby as a reference point to remember the location of this natural granary and timber yard.

After continuing downwards for about ten minutes, a faint sound of water finally reached our ears, and it became clearer and clearer.

Finally, a mountain stream appeared before him.

But the sight before him made him frown.

The stream was not as gentle as he had imagined; instead, it was squeezed by jagged black rocks, forming a series of rushing waterfalls and bottomless pools.

The roar of water and the moisture in the air made the already damp forest even colder.

“This is troublesome.” He stood on a huge rock, looking at the ravine before him, which was full of primal power. “The current is too strong, which means it’s hard for fish to stay here. And it’s almost impossible to travel along such a ravine.”

He had to make a choice: whether to risk climbing and leaping among the slippery boulders against the current, or to abandon this clue and climb back up the ridge to find another way.

Just as he was weighing the pros and cons, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a scene on the other side of the stream, and his eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

“No, we can’t leave here.” He made a quick decision, his tone becoming incredibly firm. “Guys, look over there! That’s the true proof of the Ailao Mountains’ generosity!”

He zoomed in, aiming the camera at the gentle slope on the opposite bank bathed in sunlight.

There, a plant with huge, emerald-green leaves, as wide as elephant ears, was growing in large patches, swaying gently in the mountain breeze.

"Wild bananas!" Lin Yu'an's voice was filled with joy. "Finding them in the subtropical jungle is like finding a supermarket!"

He began explaining the value of this amazing plant to the camera.

“First, look at its leaves.” He pointed to the huge leaves. “It’s the best multi-functional fabric that nature can provide. A few leaves can quickly build a waterproof roof when it rains.”

"It is the cleanest cutting board when handling ingredients, and it acts as a natural oven paper to lock in moisture when wrapping food and baking it in a fire. It can even be simply rolled up to serve as a temporary container and plate. Its uses are endless."

“Secondly, and most importantly, is its pseudostem.” He pointed to the thick trunk of the wild banana tree. “This is not actually the real trunk, but a pseudostem tightly wrapped by layers of huge leaf sheaths.”

"All we need to do is cut it down, peel off the tough outer leaf sheath, and the innermost part of its stem is as white as ivory, as tender as bamboo shoots, and rich in starch and plenty of pure water."

"Simply cut it into pieces and grill it over a fire to provide us with the most valuable carbohydrates and water, which are key to maintaining physical fitness!"

"Finally, there is its ecological niche value. As I said, although we cannot eat its fruit, it is a rare delicacy for many animals, including wild boars, bamboo rats, and even bears. Its tender shoots and flowers also attract a variety of herbivores."

"Therefore, the presence of wild banana groves means that there must be a stable hunting trail nearby. This place is both our supermarket, providing us with building materials and staple foods; it could also be our hunting ground, indicating a source of protein for us!"

This discovery solidified his resolve to stay in the valley. But a new problem arose—how to get across?
He glanced at the rushing stream below and the steep cliffs on both sides, knowing that crossing the river directly was impossible.

"It seems I need to head upstream first and find a bridge. It might be a place where the river narrows, or it might be a large tree lying across the river. In any case, we must solve the problem of crossing the river before we can truly incorporate the resources on the other side into our territory."

Instead of setting off immediately, he turned around and returned to the rotten, fallen tree with golden ears that he had previously noted down.

"Before embarking on the unknown exploration, let's secure the readily available resources." He cut several of the thickest golden ear mushrooms from the rotten wood and put them into the side pocket of his pants.

Having done all this, he struggled upstream along the treacherous valley, searching for a narrow path or a fallen tree that he could safely pass through.

The process was fraught with danger. Sometimes he had to jump from one boulder to another with the rushing, roaring stream right beneath his feet, and the consequences of a fall would be unimaginable. Other times he had to pull himself across the slippery rock face by holding onto the hanging vines.

The hiking boots' powerful grip played a crucial role at this moment, making every step he took as steady as a mountain.

Just as he climbed onto a huge granite rock and prepared to catch his breath, his gaze was once again drawn to a discovery in the stream.

His gaze fell on the black rocks washed by the water, his eyes gleaming with a light even more intense than when he discovered the wild banana plant.

"This will be my military factory!"

He jumped off the rocks and began searching for the steel he needed along the rushing stream. He kept picking up stones from the stream and then striking them hard with another stone.

"Bang!" A dull thud.

"Bang!" The stone cracked open, the fracture rough. "No, sandstone, too soft."

Finally, his eyes lit up when he picked up a dark gray stone with translucent edges and a waxy sheen.

He used another hard granite stone as a hammerstone, found the right angle, and smashed it down precisely and powerfully at the edge of the stone!

"clang!"

A crisp, melodious sound, like metal clashing, rang out!
The dark gray stone split open with a crack, the fracture not showing a granular texture, but rather as smooth as the inner wall of a seashell.

"This is it! Flint!" A sense of relief appeared on Lin Yu'an's face after finding the key material. "I'm lucky. The size and texture of this piece are enough for me to make all the tools I need."

Instead of immediately beginning the complex tool-making process, he carefully wrapped the precious stone core, then tucked it into his bosom and began his arduous journey upstream along the treacherous valley, searching for shelter for the night.

After walking uphill for about half a kilometer, as he rounded a huge bend, the view suddenly opened up before him!
Not far ahead, a huge, broken ancient tree stood like a natural bridge, spanning the narrow river!
The trunk was covered with a thick layer of moss, making it look incredibly slippery, but it was thick enough to support a person's weight.

"Found it, our Normandy." A victorious smile appeared on Lin Yu'an's face.

He carefully made his way across the natural log bridge to the other side, successfully reaching the wild banana grove he had long coveted. Behind the grove, he discovered the perfect shelter for the night.

It was a naturally formed depression in the rock wall, about two meters deep and three meters wide, like a natural cave.

Its front is flat and its back is against a solid rock wall, which can perfectly resist the mountain wind from one direction.

What's even more amazing is that at the top of the depression, there is a protruding rock that forms a natural eave.

"This is it." Lin Yu'an made the decision immediately.

"With its proximity to water sources and natural shelter-like features, the terrain is relatively safe, making it the perfect starting base and the best place to accumulate initial capital."

He glanced at the wild banana grove not far away, "and it's close enough to our supermarket and hunting grounds."

Once the base camp was established, the first thing he did was to use a sharp stone to cut off several of the largest banana leaves from the banana grove to prepare for tonight's dinner and the repair of the shelter.

Then he began his most urgent task since arriving at the place—starting a fire.

As dusk began to fall, he had to resolve the critical issue of finding a source of fire before sunset.

He set up the small Pocket 2 camera in a spot that would perfectly record all his movements, and then walked to the cleared area in front of the shelter.

They started making fire by rubbing sticks together.

“Alright, guys, here comes the ultimate challenge.” He said to the Action 3 camera on his chest, his tone serious but his eyes firm. “Making fire by friction in the Ailao Mountains, where the humidity exceeds 80%, is definitely not an easy task.”

(P.S.: The guys are back in action!)

He didn't start immediately, but instead conducted a research trip first.

"The key to success is finding the right wood," he explained as he searched the woodland. "I need two kinds of wood: one that is softer and has a lower ignition point, to make the fireboard, and the other that is hard and straight, to make the drill rods."

His gaze finally settled on a dead paulownia tree. Lacking tools to cut it down, he could only shake the trunk vigorously and break off a relatively dry, half-rotten section.

"Paulownia wood, or similar softwoods, is ideal. It is soft enough and its wood fibers are rich in oils, making it an excellent material for making fireboards."

Next, he found a hard branch that had been broken by the wind and was completely dried on a fallen hardwood tree. He grasped it with both hands, snapped it open, and with a crisp crack, he had obtained a drill rod of suitable length.

But most importantly, it was the bow that could greatly improve efficiency. His gaze fell on the hiking boots on his feet.

"In extreme survival situations, every item you own can become a lifesaver." He said to the camera as he untied the lace of one of his shoes.

"The shoelaces are made of high-strength nylon, which is extremely tough and wear-resistant, making it a perfect material for making bowstrings."

He found a slightly curved and flexible branch, then tied the two ends of his shoelaces tightly to the two ends of the branch, pulled hard, and a simple wooden bow was completed.

"The bow drill allows the drill rod to rotate and pressurize at several times the speed of hand drilling, which is the biggest guarantee of our success."

Finally, he needed a handle to hold the top of the drill rod in place. He found a pebble with a natural groove on its top by the stream and dripped a few drops of juice squeezed from some plant leaf into the groove as lubricant.

With everything ready, he knelt on the ground and firmly stomped on the paulownia wood fire pit.

Without a knife, he could only use a sharp stone, spending several times more time and effort than if he had tools, patiently rubbing and drilling on the fire plate to barely grind out a shallow groove, and then opening a V-shaped guide hole at the edge of the groove.

He tightly wound the bowstring around the drill rod, aligned the lower end of the drill rod with the groove in the fire plate, and then gripped the stone handle with his left hand, pressing down hard on the top of the drill rod.

He took a deep breath, gripped the wooden bow with his right hand, and began to pull it back and forth at a steady yet powerful pace!
“Squeak… squeak… squeak…”

The drill rod rotates at high speed in the groove of the fire plate, producing a teeth-grinding friction sound.

One minute...two minutes...

Fine beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead. The muscles in his right arm were taut from the sustained exertion, and the veins bulged.

Faint wisps of smoke began to rise from the groove, emitting a unique smell of wood being charred by high temperatures.

Five minutes... ten minutes...

Lin Yu'an's breathing became heavy, and each pull felt like he was fighting against a huge resistance.

But he didn't stop; his gaze was frighteningly focused.

Finally, when he felt his arm muscles starting to burn and ache, and he was about to reach his limit, he gritted his teeth and sped up his last bit!

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!!"

The friction sound became incredibly sharp and rapid! The smoke rising from the groove was no longer blue, but had turned into a denser grayish-white!
He suddenly stopped moving.

Below, amidst the mountain of black powder, a thicker plume of smoke was rising, and at the center of the smoke, a tiny, flickering red ember, like a candle burning in the wind, was stubbornly burning!

It worked!
A dazzling light burst forth in Lin Yu'an's eyes!

But he knew this was not the time to celebrate; this was only the beginning of the battle. He carefully lifted the dry leaf, which was still covered in sparks and carbon dust, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

He could clearly see that the tiny spark was slowly and greedily devouring the surrounding carbon dust, like a newborn baby, fragile yet full of vitality.

He gently arranged the fluffy, cotton-like tinder he had prepared into a bird's nest shape and covered Mars with it to provide it with ample oxygen and fuel.

Then, he lowered his head, brought his mouth close, and began to gently blow air into the center of the tinder in an extremely slow rhythm.

"call……"

The red sparks, under his breath, instantly became much brighter, and the smoke became even thicker.

"call……"

A tiny, orange-yellow flame trembled and peeked out from the center of the tinder!

"call--!"

Lin Yu'an seized this fleeting opportunity and increased the airflow!

"call!"

The flame suddenly leaped up! As if infused with a soul, it instantly ignited the entire tinder! A warm and bright flame, belonging to human civilization, burned fiercely in his hands!
In that instant, all the endless fatigue seemed to be dispelled by this flame!

He carefully placed the burning tinder into the fire that had already been set up, which was made of small dry branches.

The flames spread rapidly, greedily licking the dry wood and making a pleasant crackling sound.

He slumped down beside the fire, feeling the long-lost warmth, and let out a long sigh of relief.

But his tense nerves did not completely relax. He looked at the jungle swallowed by endless darkness beyond the firelight, as if he could see countless compound eyes spying in the dark.

Lin Yu-an's voice was clearly transmitted to the camera through the miniature microphone on his chest: "For a challenger who spends the night in the Ailao Mountains, setting up a shelter is only the completion of physical defense."

"But real combat is biological warfare! I have to deal with opponents that are even more terrifying than wild beasts."

(End of this chapter)