King of the Wilderness

Clothing and Footwear: Only the set he was wearing and carrying, but this was undoubtedly the most advanced personal combat system on Earth, custom-made by his sponsor, Archaeopteryx.

Upper Body: An Archaeopteryx Motus AR Crew LS quick-dry long-sleeve T-shirt. It not only expels sweat quickly to keep dry, but its unique dual-component structure also provides basic warmth, making it the best base layer choice for dealing with huge daily temperature shifts.

Archaeopteryx Beta SV hardshell jacket, which not only completely blocks the assault of heavy rain but its storm hood design can also provide excellent protection in fierce winds. This jacket is his only raincoat and windproof layer, the last line of defense against the risk of hypothermia.

Lower Body: He wore the Archaeopteryx Gamma LT softshell pants that had already become his signature. The Fortius DW 2.0 fabric offers incredible durability, four-way stretch, and basic water repellence, enough to cope with the complex and changing jungle environment of the Ailao Mountains.

Footwear: He wore a pair of Archaeopteryx Acrux TR GTX high-top heavy-duty hiking boots, providing unparalleled grip on slippery rocks and mud.

Basic Tools: A first aid kit.

Rescue Tools: Military-grade Beidou satellite rescue phone.

Besides that, nothing else.

No sleeping bag, no water bottle, no axe, no saw, no flint, not even a knife for self-defense.

When Liang Wenbin hurried to see him off before departure, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath when he saw the sparse, almost bare-bones equipment on the table.

"Yu’an... just... bringing these?" Liang Wenbin asked, his face full of worry and confusion, disbelief written all over, "Not even a lighter? This is so dangerous!"

"Ailao Mountain is no joke, it’s so cold at night, what if it rains... you can’t even start a fire!"

"Uncle Liang, thank you for your concern." His voice was calm, yet filled with confidence, "It is precisely because there is nothing, that this story has the value of being told."

He tapped his own head, then extended his hands.

"The fire is hidden in my mind. I have countless ways to create a spark out of this forest."

"I want to use the most primitive methods to showcase this extreme survival to the audience worldwide, also paying the highest respect to the mysterious Ailao Mountains."

Seeing his determined gaze and composure born from absolute skill, Liang Wenbin knew any persuasion was futile.

He could only give Lin Yu’an a firm pat on the shoulder and solemnly remind him: "Then you must stay safe! Remember, we are all waiting for your triumphant return in the rear!"

Early the next morning, a helicopter belonging to the Yunnan Province Forest Fire Department slowly landed on the helipad of the front command post amidst a thunderous roar.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Yu’an checked his filming equipment and satellite communicator for the last time. After confirming everything was in order, he quickly boarded the steel beast that was still waiting amidst the huge roar.

The cabin door closed, isolating all the noise and anticipation from outside.

Lin Yu’an put on a professional noise-cancelling flying helmet, and inside the cabin, only the dull vibrations from the rotor’s rotation and the electric current sound from the communicator remained.

He signaled the captain in the cockpit that he was ready.

"Roger." The captain’s voice was steady and strong, "Command, the hawk is ready for takeoff; estimated flight time 25 minutes."

As the engine power increased, the massive body suddenly lifted off the ground in an unstoppable manner.

The crowd seeing him off on the ground and Jingdong County Town quickly shrank and soon were devoured by the continuous green mountains.

The helicopter began flying towards the heart of the Ailao Mountains.

The scenery outside the window changed rapidly in an oppressive manner. Terraces and villages that were clearly visible moments ago disappeared, replaced by an endless ocean of primeval forest.

The mountains became more rugged, and the helicopter flew through large valleys, with white waterfalls hanging on the cliffs on both sides, seemingly within reach.

In the valleys, clouds and mist swirled like a fairyland, yet full of unknown dangers.

Lin Yu’an’s gaze did not linger on the magnificent scenery; he took out a tablet displaying a high-resolution topographic map synchronized with the helicopter’s navigation system and real-time flight parameters.

He was comparing it with his memory, engraving the direction of each ridge and the source of each stream in his mind.

This land, about to become his battlefield, he must know it thoroughly before setting foot on it.

"Approaching the designated drop area, altitude 1850 meters." The captain’s voice came through the internal communication system, with a hint of gravity, "The air currents below are very unstable, and the mountain winds are strong. We will use a hovering rope drop for deployment. Please prepare."

Lin Yu’an nodded and began making final preparations. He securely fastened the Osmo Action 3 sports camera to the strap on his chest and switched on the recording button.

The helicopter slowly descended in the unstable air currents, the massive body shaking violently, emitting a teeth-clenching metal groan.

It finally hovered above a relatively flat slope. Here was a dense mid-mountain humid evergreen broadleaf forest, where layers of huge canopies almost obscured the ground.

The enormous wind pressure generated by the rotors, like a typhoon passing, caused the canopies below to sway wildly, forming a wave of green.