American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 339 Adopting a New Hunting Dog!
Seeing that Lin Yu'an and Liang Wenbin were both stunned for a moment, he immediately explained:

"This is not a restriction on your personal freedom, but a necessary procedure in the investigation. You are the only and most important civilian eyewitness and assistant in this case."

"During the upcoming interrogation and investigation, we may need you to verify or identify certain details at any time, and we need to ensure that we can contact you at any time."

He glanced at Liang Wenbin and said sincerely, "Director Liang, please understand this with Mr. Lin."

"This case is extremely serious in nature, involving firearms, a first-class protected animal, and a death. The provincial department and the Armed Police Headquarters are paying close attention to it."

“We cannot afford to take responsibility for any procedural flaws.”

Liang Wenbin immediately understood Li Jianguo's position. The other party had already given the greatest possible leniency within the scope of his authority.

Liang Wenbin immediately retorted, "Old Li, you did the right thing! It's what you should do! Discipline is discipline!"

He patted Lin Yu'an on the shoulder and said, "Yu'an, just relax in Kunming for a few days and take a break. The bureau has arranged the best hotel for you. Consider it a vacation."

Lin Yu'an fully understood and nodded solemnly: "Captain Li, rest assured, I will cooperate fully. I will be there whenever you need me."

"Good! With Mr. Lin's words, I can rest assured." A relaxed smile appeared on Li Jianguo's face.

"I've said what I meant in principle. Mr. Lin, on behalf of the detachment, I thank you again! Without you, these beasts would have harmed countless more lives."

"Officer Li, you're too kind."

Liang Wenbin chimed in, "Haha, everyone, no need to be modest. We're all serving the people! Come on, Yu'an, I'll take you back to your hotel."

"Old Li, we'll keep you informed about any follow-up matters. Thank you for your hard work today!"

Thus, under Liang Wenbin's personal escort, Lin Yu'an left the interrogation room smoothly that day.

Just as they were passing through the backyard of the Public Security Bureau, a suppressed wailing sound caught Lin Yu'an's attention.

He stopped and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw three dogs locked in three separate iron cages.

They were no longer the imposing sentinels they were yesterday during drone reconnaissance; instead, they had become three dejected prisoners, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

In the middle cage was a Kunming dog, the largest of the three, with a black back and yellow belly, and an appearance that closely resembled a German Shepherd.

It was clearly the alpha dog of the pack; even in its cage, its back remained ramrod straight, and its eyes scanned its surroundings warily.

But when its gaze met Lin Yu'an's, it revealed a hint of barely perceptible fear.

In the two cages next to it were two Xia Si dogs with extremely unique appearances.

Their bodies are covered with a layer of coarse, stiff, white short hairs like steel needles. They have firm muscles, red spots on their faces, and an untamed wildness in their eyes.

At this moment, they were no longer as fierce as they were in the mountains and forests. They paced restlessly in their cages, emitting anxious cries from their throats.

As Lin Yu'an approached, the eyes of all three dogs focused on him simultaneously.

Perhaps they smelled a familiar scent on this man, a scent that mixed with the blood and gunpowder of the mountains and forests, the scent of a hunter.

Their eyes were no longer fierce, but pitiful, even pleading.

"Captain Li," Lin Yu'an turned his head and asked Li Jianguo, who had accompanied them, in a low voice, "Are these three dogs from that group?"

Li Jianguo nodded, a complex expression on his face: "That's right. It's them. One Kunming dog and two Xia Si dogs, all excellent hunters."

"When we made the arrest, these beasts tried to pounce on us and bite us, but they were subdued by our police dogs."

"What will happen to them in the end?" Lin Yu'an asked.

This question instantly made the atmosphere at the scene somewhat heavy.

Officer Li's expression became somewhat complicated as he looked at the reluctance in Lin Yu'an's eyes.

He sighed and said slowly, in a tone that was both an explanation and a statement of fact, "Mr. Lin, I know what you're thinking."

"But legally, they are now considered tools used in the crime, just like those homemade guns and that tricycle, and are all physical evidence that need to be seized and confiscated."

"During the investigation and trial, they will be temporarily housed with us for quarantine and behavioral assessment."

“Only after the entire case trial is over and their mission as evidence has been fulfilled will they enter the final disposal process.”

Li Jianguo paused for a moment, and finally a hint of helplessness appeared in his voice.

"Our priority in this process is always social safety. These are top-class mountain hounds, very wild, and have a history of clear aggression."

“They are not ordinary pet dogs; they are weaponized animals.”

"Therefore, we will first try to contact professional animal rescue organizations or units with experience in training fierce dogs to see if it is possible to perform behavioral correction and adoption on them."

"But it's very difficult, extremely difficult. The vast majority of institutions are unwilling to take on such a hot potato."

"If they remain unattended for an extended period, or if an assessment determines that their aggressiveness has become entrenched and they cannot be safely domesticated..."

He looked at Lin Yu'an and finally gave that cold answer, "In order to prevent them from falling back into society and causing harm, the only option left is to handle them humanely."

"Humanitarian treatment"—what this means is self-evident.

Lin Yu'an looked at the three dogs in the cage again. They may have aided and abetted the evildoers, but weren't they also victims themselves?
They simply obeyed their masters' orders, using their instincts to earn food and recognition, but ultimately they had to pay the price with their lives for human greed.

The black-backed Kunming dog seemed to understand something. It slowly stood up, walked to the cage, and gently sniffed Lin Yu'an's scent through the cold wire mesh.

There was no hostility in its eyes, only the most primal desire for life in an animal.

Lin Yu'an remained silent for a long time, then suddenly turned around and said to Officer Li in an extremely serious tone, "Officer Li, what conditions do I need to meet to adopt them?"

This request stunned everyone present.

"What?" Liang Wenbin was the first to react, frowning as he said, "Yu'an, have you thought this through? These are the dogs raised by that gang of desperados, wild and untamed, they're weapons!"

Lin Yu'an nodded, his gaze still fixed on the Kunming dog.

“I know. But in my opinion, they are not murder weapons, but tools that have been misused. The dogs themselves are innocent; the fault lies with the people who use them.”

Officer Li looked at Lin Yu'an's unquestionable gaze, then glanced at Liang Wenbin beside him, who no longer objected.

He neither immediately agreed nor immediately refused. His serious face became even more solemn, as if he were reviewing an important case file.

“Mr. Lin,” he began slowly, his voice not loud, but every word carrying the weight of the law, “I personally admire your kindness.”

"However, adopting them is not a simple matter. These are not ordinary stray dogs; they are highly aggressive and dangerous dogs involved in the case."

"According to regulations, adoptive parents must meet several extremely stringent conditions."

He held up his fingers and began to list them one by one:

“Adopters must undergo the most rigorous background checks to ensure they have no criminal record and no direct or indirect interest in the case.”

"Valid proof must be provided to demonstrate that you possess professional knowledge of training dangerous dogs and the ability to correct animal behavior. You need to ensure that the dog will not become another threat once it is in your hands."

"There must be a safe breeding area with fences of sufficient height and strength to prevent any possibility of the dogs escaping. Ordinary residential areas are absolutely not allowed to do this."

“Last and most importantly,” Li Jianguo’s gaze sharpened, “the adoptive parents must sign a legally binding ‘Unlimited Liability Guarantee’.”

"I promise to assume lifelong and unlimited legal responsibility for all the behavior of these dogs after adoption."

"If they hurt someone or cause any damage again, you will be solely responsible for all the consequences."

However, Lin Yu'an's expression remained unchanged after listening, and he calmly answered each question one by one:

"My background is open to scrutiny at any time."

"Regarding the venue and qualifications, I will personally fund a professional dog training base with proper qualifications and quarantine conditions. They will act as a third-party organization to receive and temporarily house these three dogs."

This suggestion made Officer Li's eyes light up instantly! It perfectly solved the most difficult part of the process.

Lin Yu'an continued, "During the trial, they will remain at the base to receive initial behavioral assessments and basic corrective training, all at my expense." "This satisfies the requirements for safety supervision and also buys them the most valuable time for subsequent corrective training."

"Once the case is closed and the conditions for formal adoption are met, I will bring them back to my farm in the United States."

"As for that 'Unlimited Liability Guarantee,' I can sign it at any time. From the moment they leave the supervision of the public security system, I will be solely responsible for their future."

Lin Yu'an did not provide a simple answer, but a complete solution that was step-by-step, well-funded, technically sound, and in accordance with legal procedures.

It demonstrates not only kindness, but also a successful person's resource integration ability and a sense of social responsibility in doing things thoroughly.

This resounding answer silenced everyone present.

A slight smile appeared on Officer Li's serious face. It seemed that Lin Yu'an was not only qualified to adopt, but also relieved all the worries of law enforcement officers like them.

He nodded slowly. "Xiao Lin, your plan is very comprehensive and professional. It almost meets all our procedural requirements."

“I will treat your request as a special case and prepare a written report, attaching your qualification certificates and the complete resettlement plan you proposed, and report it to my superiors together.”

“Although the final decision is not mine, but…” he paused, then said, word by word, “I will provide the greatest support for your application in my capacity as the head of the task force.”

"Thank you, Officer Li. I'll contact the relevant professional bases and personnel in the next couple of days."

He took one last look at the three dogs in the cage, as if making a promise to them.

Then, urged by Liang Wenbin, he turned around, got into the car, and headed to the hotel.

In the darkness, the black government vehicle drove smoothly through the streets of KM city.

The neon lights outside the car window, like a flowing river of light, illuminated Lin Yu'an's tired face.

"Yu'an, have some water."

"Thank you, Uncle Liang." Lin Yu'an took the water and drank several large gulps.

A light drizzle began to fall outside, and the car fell into a brief silence, with only the windshield wipers rhythmically scraping the windshield.

Finally, Liang Wenbin sighed and spoke in a tone that was both concerned and consultative.

“Yu’an, this time… although you have made a great contribution, you have also made a huge mess.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu'an put down the water bottle and listened quietly.

"Fortunately, fortunately your program wasn't broadcast live." Liang Wenbin's tone carried a hint of lingering fear.

"Imagine if you were attacked by an armed poaching gang, or even engaged in a firefight, while millions of people were watching online..."

"I don't even want to think about the consequences! A good thing could very well turn into an uncontrollable public opinion disaster."

He glanced at Lin Yu'an and lowered his voice even further: "While you were giving your statement, my phone was ringing off the hook."

"Both the cultural and tourism departments in Jilin and Sichuan have heard about this. The relevant personnel in charge of the Changbai Mountain and Siguniang Mountain projects are very shocked and... very nervous."

"They held an emergency conference call overnight and initially decided to conduct a comprehensive and prudent safety reassessment of the subsequent program recording plans."

When Liang Wenbin mentioned the words "reassessment," he emphasized them.

Lin Yu'an instantly understood the subtext behind this official statement.

"Uncle Liang, you mean..."

“Let me be frank with you,” Liang Wenbin said, his expression turning serious. “The so-called meetings and discussions may very well be postponed indefinitely.”

"Yu'an, you need to be mentally prepared for the worst. The challenge of Changbai Mountain and Siguniang Mountain is most likely to be canceled."

He patted Lin Yu'an on the shoulder and explained helplessly, "We all thought that the greatest risk came from the wilderness itself—wild beasts, extreme weather, and natural disasters."

“We made countless contingency plans and equipped ourselves with the top rescue teams. But we all overlooked what is more unpredictable and deadly than nature: people.”

"Now that this has happened, which local leader would dare to confidently take responsibility for the safety of your upcoming challenges?"

"If a similar situation were to occur again, and there were poaching gangs or ruthless individuals in a certain area, no one could bear the responsibility."

The atmosphere inside the car became somewhat oppressive.

Lin Yu'an remained silent; he showed neither anger nor argument. He understood the logic of how things worked in China.

This is not a question of who is right and who is wrong; it is a real issue of responsible public opinion and risk aversion. In this context, any debate is futile.

He watched the street scene rushing past the window in silence, but his mind was racing.

The projects at Changbai Mountain and Siguniang Mountain are the two most important stops in his entire program series.

To this end, they secured millions of dollars in sponsorship and signed agreements with Douyin and Tencent Video, two of the largest platforms in China.

If the project is shelved or even canceled, he will face not only the shattering of his dreams, but also a huge commercial default and a crisis of credibility.

The commercial value he has worked so hard to build may be greatly diminished as a result.

This must absolutely not be allowed to happen!
A few minutes later, as the vehicle slowly drove into the hotel's underground parking lot, Lin Yu'an had already made his decision.

He turned his head to look at Liang Wenbin, who was still worried about him, and his face regained its signature resolute expression.

"Uncle Liang, I understand and fully respect the leaders' ideas." His voice was calm and firm, without a trace of complaint.

"Safety first, I understand this principle better than anyone. Let's put the rest of the challenge plans on hold for now."

Seeing how understanding Lin Yu'an was, Liang Wenbin felt a little guilty: "Yu'an, you..."

"Don't worry," Lin Yu'an interrupted him. "I'll personally handle the communication with the sponsors and the platform. We can't climb the mountain now, but the show won't stop."

"I will come up with a completely new project plan, a new plan that can showcase the magnificence of China while minimizing the risks."

Liang Wenbin was stunned for a moment, looking at the young man in front of him, who, in just a few minutes, had found a way to break the deadlock after a huge blow.

"Good!" Liang Wenbin patted him heavily on the shoulder, his heart finally at ease. His eyes were full of appreciation. "Just let me know if you need anything!"

Lin Yu'an bid farewell to Liang Wenbin and returned to the hotel.

When he opened the door to the luxury suite, he realized he had returned to civilization once again.

Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the dazzling lights of KM City gradually awakening, I still feel a little dazed, even though I have experienced similar scenes many times.

They didn't dwell on the thrilling events of the day, nor did they worry about future business challenges.

I took off my rain jacket, which was covered in mud and sweat, and went into the bathroom to turn on the shower.

The scalding hot water, like long-awaited rain, poured down from above, washing over every inch of his tired muscles.

It was as if the water was cleansing the primal and wildness that had settled deep within his soul, until his skin began to feel slightly hot before finally turning it off.

Wrapped in a soft bathrobe, she collapsed heavily onto the large, cloud-like bed and instantly fell into a deep, ocean-like sleep.

It wasn't until seven o'clock the next morning that his precise biological clock woke him up on time.

Kunming outside the window was already bathed in the morning light.

Lin Yu'an sat up, feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation in his body and a fullness in his spirit.

The battle is far from over; it's just that the battlefield has shifted from the primeval jungle to modern society.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(AL is awesome!)

(Also, I'm taking advice and preparing to open other instances. There are indeed too many restrictions in China. I've had writer's block many times in places you can't see, and after writing for a long time, I found out that there are three prohibited animals.)
(End of this chapter)