King of the Wilderness

An experienced forest firefighter in an orange uniform skillfully opened the side cabin door. A gust of wind rushed in, making everything inside the cabin flutter noisily.

He leaned halfway out to observe the situation below, then threw down a thick descent rope.

"The drop zone is clear! You can descend!" he shouted to Lin Yu’an, making a thumbs-down gesture to him.

Lin Yu’an hesitated not even for a moment. He precisely clipped his safety harness onto the descent rope. Carrying no backpack, all necessary filming equipment and communication devices were already worn on his body, making him appear exceptionally lean.

He took one last look in the direction of the cockpit, giving the pilot an OK sign.

The next second, he leapt out of the violently swaying cabin without hesitation, his body instantly suspended in the air dozens of meters high.

He steadily controlled his body’s posture with both hands and feet, sliding down the rope at a constant speed.

Passing through the tree canopy blown open by the airstream, his feet finally felt the solid ground.

He landed steadily in a forest floor covered with thick fallen leaves and humus, quickly unbuckling his harness, retreating to a safe distance, then waving energetically at the helicopter above to signal a safe landing.

The helicopter didn’t linger once confirming his safety, immediately gaining altitude and changing direction, its loud rumbling quickly fading away, finally disappearing beyond the mist-shrouded mountains.

The entire world instantly plunged into utter silence.

Only the rustling sound of wind passing through leaves and a few crisp calls of unidentified birds in the distance remained.

Lin Yu’an stood still, looking around.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, slicing sunlight into countless dappled spots. Roots covered with moss pervaded the air with a rich scent mixed with decaying leaves, moist soil, and the freshness of plants.

There was no trace of human activity here, truly isolated from the civilized world.

He opened the Action 3 sports camera on his chest, adjusting the angle to ensure his face and the surrounding environment were clearly recorded.

Then he spoke the first words of this challenge into the lens.

"This is Lin Yu’an, ’Above the Wilderness’ Season One, Secret Realm Yunnan. Ailao Mountain Challenge, Day One. Now officially beginning." His voice was calm and steady, exceptionally clear in the silent forest.

He didn’t rush into action but first set up the Ronin 4D movie camera steadily on a tripod, adjusting the angle to clearly present himself and the deep, primeval forest behind him in the frame.

Then he took out a waterproof processed topographic map from a pocket.

"Alright, folks, before we start moving, we must first understand our battleground." His tone became serious, filled with awe for this land, "This is Ailao Mountain."

"Ailao Mountain lies in the central part of Yunnan, China, marking the geographical boundary between the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains, as well as the watershed between the Yuanjiang River and the Amo River."

"The name ’Ailao’ originates from the ancient Yi language, meaning the depths of the mountain. And the core area of this mountain depth is precisely what we’re about to challenge."

His finger slowly moved across the broad green area on the map.

"Here lies one of the most important biological gene banks in China and even the world. From the dry-hot river valleys at the mountain’s base to the mid-mountain humid evergreen broadleaf forest where we currently stand, and up to the moss forest above three thousand meters."

"It possesses an extremely complete vertical vegetation spectrum. This means that every few hundred meters we move up or down may lead us into a brand-new ecosystem."

"Generosity is its most charming aspect." He looked up, the camera panning around, "Thousands of plant species here, many of which can become our food, medicine, and tools."

"There are fish in the streams, bamboo rats, and wild rabbits in the forest. As long as you know how to coexist with it, it won’t let you starve."

However, his tone suddenly shifted, eyes becoming incredibly sharp as though penetrating the lens, making every audience member in front of the screen feel the chill.

"But the other side of generosity is lethal danger!"

"First, the terrain." He pointed at the densely packed contour lines on the map like a spider web, "V-shaped valleys, steep ridges, and countless cliffs and deep ravines cut by streams, where slipping here means little chance of survival."

"Second, the weather." He looked up at the seemingly calm sky above, "One mountain with four seasons, different weather every ten miles. Fog thick enough to impede vision can ascend at any moment within the valleys, disorienting us."

"A sudden afternoon thunderstorm can mercilessly rob our body heat in minutes, leading to hypothermia."

His voice lowered, filled with a warning tone, "Then, there are the indigenous wildlife."

"Besides the wild boar we already know, this is also home to top predators like black bears, clouded leopards, and golden cats. Although they usually avoid humans, any accidental encounter in the food-scarce early spring can be deadly."

"Of course, there are smaller yet equally deadly threats." He lightly nudged aside a layer of thick leaves with his toe, revealing the damp soil underneath.

"King cobras, Iron Heads, green pit vipers... dozens of venomous snakes proliferate here. Not to mention ubiquitous leeches and various poisonous insects. Any careless touch here could lead to disaster."