King of the Wilderness

A few seconds later, the device emitted a faint beep, indicating that the satellite was connected on the screen.

He took a deep breath and pressed the red SOS button, representing the highest level of emergency, without hesitation.

He pressed the preset communication key that directly connected to the emergency rescue team.

After a brief crackle of static, the call was quickly connected. A steady and urgent voice came from the receiver: "Lin Yu’an? Is it you? What’s happening? You’ve pressed the emergency contact key!"

It was the voice of Zhou Hai, the captain of the emergency rescue team. They were in the county town only a few dozen kilometers away, ready to respond to any accident Lin Yu’an might encounter during his challenge.

"Captain Zhou, it’s me. I’m safe, but the situation is extremely urgent." Lin Yu’an’s voice was very low, but his speech was fast, filled with undeniable urgency.

"Listen, I am now at the coordinates latitude XX north, longitude XX east, on the ridge of the midsection of Ailao Mountain. I have discovered the scene of a criminal operation by an armed poaching gang."

"An adult female bear has been killed. I found number 12 shotgun shells on the scene, and the crime took place within the last 24 hours. The suspects are likely still in the area."

Zhou Hai on the other end of the line gasped, instantly grasping the seriousness of the situation.

"Understood! Lin Yu’an, what you did was absolutely right! Stay calm, remain where you are, and ensure your concealment and safety! I’ll handle it immediately!" Zhou Hai’s voice turned extremely serious.

"I am now reporting this major police situation to the 110 command center and the forest police! Keep your equipment open, as the police may need to speak with you directly to obtain first-hand information!"

The call was temporarily disconnected. Lin Yu’an could imagine that a highly efficient emergency response was already operating like a precision machine a few dozen kilometers away.

Sure enough, in less than five minutes, his satellite phone rang again. This time it was an unfamiliar authoritarian voice.

"Is this Mr. Lin Yu’an? This is the city police command center. We have received the emergency rescue team’s report and have classified it as a major criminal case."

"I need you to recount in as much detail as possible what you observed at the scene, leave nothing out."

Lin Yu’an immediately relayed all his findings, including which parts of the bear’s body had been dissected, the hound’s corpse, footprints from mountaineering boots, characteristics of homemade shells, and his assessment of the poachers’ professionalism—all clearly and calmly.

The police on the other end took rapid notes while asking some key questions, such as the number of footprints and their approximate direction.

Finally, the other party spoke in an undeniable tone: "Mr. Lin, thank you for your valuable information! You have gained us the most critical time."

"According to the situation you reported, we have initiated an emergency response plan for a major case. The nearest armed police mobile unit will board a helicopter and arrive at your location in the shortest possible time. Provincial forest police criminal investigation experts and a K9 unit will follow shortly."

"Now, your primary and only task is to protect yourself!"

"Do not conduct any further reconnaissance, do not reveal your position, do not have any contact with the criminals!"

"Find an absolutely safe place to hide and wait for our team to meet with you. Keep your communication equipment on, and we’ll be in touch with you at any time. Understand?"

"Understood!"

The call ended.

Lin Yu’an leaned against the cold rock, his taut nerves suddenly releasing tension at that moment.

The adrenaline receded like the tide, leaving behind a body nearly sapped of strength after the long trek and extreme fatigue from mental strain.

Just a few minutes ago, he was confronting the most unpredictable dangers of this forest alone.

Every rustle of leaves might signal the steps of a desperate fugitive. Every swaying shadow might hide a cold muzzle.

But now, everything was different.

He looked down at the Beidou communication device flashing in his hand and then gazed up at the sky.

Somewhere in that vast blue, a powerful and precise state machine had been set in motion by his call.

He was no longer alone.

Behind him stood the emergency rescue team, the forest police, and soon, the roaring armed police helicopter with fully armed soldiers.

An unprecedented sense of security enveloped him at that moment, like seeing a majestic lighthouse in the middle of stormy waves.

He took a deep breath, and even the air in the mountain forest seemed less cold. He pulled out a piece of dried grilled fish from his backpack, tore off a piece, and began to chew slowly.

The only thing left to do was to hide himself well and wait.

Wait for the power of civilization to descend upon this primeval jungle tainted by crime.

Waiting is the longest torment in the world.

Lin Yu’an hid in the crevice of the rock, curling his body to the smallest possible size, blending into his surroundings.

Time passed second by second, as he checked the time on his camera. It had been fifty minutes since he sent out the alert.

Just as his patience was about to run out, a buzzing sound grew from distant to nearby, slicing through the mountain forest’s silence.

It was... the sound of helicopter rotors! Much faster than he expected!

Lin Yu’an’s spirits soared as he poked his head out from the rock crevice and looked up at the sky.

There, in the azure sky, a black dot rapidly grew larger. A military green helicopter marked with the words "Armed Police" came into view.