King of the Wilderness

Chapter 352: Chapter 217: Doing Scientific Research in the Wild? (10,000-Word Jumbo Chapter) (Part 3)

The fishing net felt very light in his hands, and Lin Yu’an’s heart sank.

As expected, as the long nylon net was pulled out of the water section by section, there were only three or four small Red Spot Salmon hanging on it, the largest barely weighing a pound.

He took off these few pitiful catches, a grave expression appearing on his face, ”The situation isn’t looking good. It seems the blood bait has completely lost its effect.”

”Without the continuous attraction of the strong bloody scent, the fish have dispersed, and relying solely on the passive interception of the net is very inefficient.”

Lin Yu’an knew he had to make a change; staying here would only waste time.

”I need to find a new spot to cast the net, continue looking for deep water areas with relatively stable temperatures or regions with fresh water influx. This lake is huge; I need to spend time exploring it.”

He used a nylon string to thread through the gills of the small fish, stringing them together. Then he submerged the string of fish back into the ice hole, securely fixing the other end of the string to an ice peg.

This was a natural refrigerator. The icy lake water would keep the fish absolutely fresh until he needed them.

After finishing this, Lin Yu’an didn’t linger on the lake surface but turned towards the forest at the shore.

His second objective was to check the land traps he had set at the forest’s edge.

Compared to the uncertainty of under-ice fishing, the harvest cycle for land traps was longer and more unstable.

He skillfully traversed the snow, searching for his markers, arriving at the first trap’s location.

This was a classic ”4” wooden slab trap he had constructed with a few sticks and a steel tripwire, targeting the Spruce Grouse or Thunderbird that foraged in the forest.

The trap was intact and hadn’t been triggered. Upon checking the few red berries used as bait, they were frozen as hard as stones.

”Seems like luck isn’t on my side.” He shook his head and continued to the next trap.

After checking three traps in a row, all were empty.

If this were yesterday, such results would have weighed heavily on Lin Yu’an’s mind. But today, his mindset was exceptionally steady, and it wouldn’t make him anxious anymore.

”Seems like today’s luck isn’t great. But that’s alright, at least now, I don’t have to worry about the food supply for December anymore.”

He stopped and gazed at the vast snowy plains in the distance, continuing, ”December now has professional rations, more scientific than any food I could provide.”

”And I just need to focus on solving my own survival issues. This feels much more relaxing.”

”Now I only need to consider how to most efficiently gain enough calories for myself and how best to complete my research tasks.”

Just as he adjusted his mindset and was about to proceed to the last trap for a routine check, then head back, an unexpected surprise appeared.

The last trap was one he had meticulously set on a hidden Rabbit Run.

A Rabbit Run is a fixed path Snowshoe Rabbits create by repeatedly treading on thick snow.

He used two closely growing small trees and a fallen log as supports and power source to create a high-trigger lasso trap.

From over ten meters away, he saw clear signs of struggle in the snow. His heart leapt with joy, and he quickened his pace.

Upon closer inspection, a plump Snowshoe Rabbit was hanging rigidly in the air, caught by the nylon lasso.

Its fur had transitioned to the winter white, blending perfectly into the snowy environment, making it almost impossible to spot without the trap’s aid.

”Excellent!” A genuine smile spread across Lin Yu’an’s face.

”An adult Snowshoe Rabbit, weighing at least three to four pounds, adds another rich source of protein.”

Snowshoe Rabbits were a crucial food source in the Arctic Region. Though its meat wasn’t as rich as fish, the protein content was extremely high.

More importantly, this unexpected gain meant Lin Yu’an could have more energy in the coming days to observe and record December’s growth. ℯ

He untied the lasso and placed the frozen Snowshoe Rabbit into his backpack, ensuring the trap was reset properly.

In the wilderness, after every successful hunt, you must prepare for the next.

Carrying this hefty bounty, Lin Yu’an felt very happy. Checking the time, he decided not to continue exploring and immediately headed back to the shelter.

While the anxiety over food had significantly lessened, his longing for the little one waiting at home was stronger than ever.

When Lin Yu’an pushed open the heavy door of the shelter, it was already noon. The sky outside was growing more overcast, as if snow could fall at any moment.

The warmth inside engulfed him, making him feel as if he was stepping from an ice pit back into the Human World. He barred the door with a wooden latch before turning his gaze towards the corner of the shelter.

December was already awake, but it didn’t immediately come to greet him, remaining languidly sprawled on the sleeping bag, its eyes half-closed in sleepiness.

At this age, the Polar Bear cub only cared for eating and sleeping, seemingly investing every ounce of energy into growing.

It saw Lin Yu’an and let out a few soft ”hmm hmm” sounds, a form of greeting, lifting its fluffy little head before laying back down.

Lin Yu’an chuckled, placing his backpack and spear down. He walked to December’s side, reaching out to ruffle its fluffy little head.