King of the Wilderness

He walked to the edge of the camp and picked a few Artemisia leaves that had been roasting over the fire, then rubbed them vigorously in his palms until the dark green juice seeped out, and carefully applied the juice to all exposed skin such as his ankles, wrists, and neck.

Then, displaying the green liquid on his hands, he said, "So, in addition to choosing open areas and maintaining a continuous smoke, we also need active defense—this is natural repellent."

"Plants like Artemisia and mugwort are rich in volatile oils, which can effectively repel mites. These are the most primitive and effective means of self-protection when modern equipment is unavailable."

After saying this, Lin Yu’an laid some large wild banana leaves on a makeshift platform and tried lying on them.

He was silent for a moment and then looked directly at the camera, "So, folks, I must now say something very important."

"The Ailao Mountain you see is a national nature reserve, with public, safe, and well-equipped scenic areas. Those places are beautiful and worth a visit."

"But please remember, those places and the environment I am in now are two completely different worlds."

"Where I am now is an undeveloped primitive forest area. This is not a park, not a tourist spot, and certainly not a backyard for you to experience poetry and the distant future."

"This is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, which means the ecological laws here are truly primitive, where the fittest survive."

Lin Yu’an pointed at his head, then gestured to the surrounding environment.

"Every decision I make—clearing isolation zones, building elevated platforms, applying resin, fire-roasting gaps, managing smells, applying plant juices—is based on professional training and a deep understanding of the habits of these lethal creatures."

"But this still cannot guarantee one hundred percent safety."

"I urge everyone watching not to imitate any similar behavior and absolutely not to step into any undeveloped primitive areas like Ailao Mountain without a professional team and complete security measures."

"What you lack is not just physical ability and tools. What you lack is the knowledge to identify hundreds of species of plants and animals, the experience to deal with extreme weather changes, and the psychological resilience to stay calm in desperate situations."

"When you are bitten by a Hallucinogenic Widow and roll in pain, no deity will come to exorcise you; when you are attacked by a swarm of hornets, swelling up and struggling to breathe, no helicopter will arrive within five minutes."

His voice was low and powerful, filled with an undeniable warning.

"Here, nature won’t give you a chance to correct your mistakes. It will only quietly and cruelly erase the wrongdoer from this world without making a sound!"

"Even if you are lucky enough to return to civilized society, you might still face imprisonment!"

"Before this challenge began, we cooperated with local cultural and tourism bureaus, forestry departments, and research units, communicating and conducting strict ecological assessments to obtain a specially authorized collection permit for this special project."

"Its existence is so that I can demonstrate and educate the public about the precious species on this land and, when necessary, use resources legally to a minimal extent to avoid legal risk. But this is by no means a privileged pass."

"This permit strictly defines which non-protected fungi I can collect within ten days, down to the secondary protected plants allowed for non-destructive collection."

"For example, when I collected the hairy golden fern, it was explicitly stated that only the hair can be collected; touching the rhizome in any form is prohibited, and even which leaf bases are permissible for collection have recommended ranges."

"This so-called permit—it’s the minimal authorization given under the premise of not causing any observable impact on the ecosystem."

"For an individual to apply for such a permit is almost impossible, because you cannot provide a reason as strong and beneficial to the public as official scientific education. So, please dispel any illusion that you can get a permit too."

"My actions are a science demonstration conducted under strict licensing and supervision. If you imitate, you are conducting blatant illegal activity without any permit."

"Every protected plant you collect and every protected animal you hunt is laying a trail to prison on your way home."

He looked at the camera and made a final summary, his tone heavy and sincere.

"So, please see my challenge as a scientific experiment under strict control, not an adventure you can imitate."

"I am showing you the magnificence and danger of Ailao Mountain, and more importantly, drawing a clear and unmistakable legal red line and a line of life with my actions for everyone!"

After a short rest, the hunger pangs and thoughts of future plans surged in his stomach, making it impossible for him to stop.

Lin Yu’an’s gaze at the camera became sharp again, "We have fire, next we need tools. Civilization began with the first Stone Knife crafted by our hands."

He returned to the flat blacksmith stone he had set eyes on in the afternoon, moving the flint core and several granite hammerstones of different sizes to the fire.

"Before making a Stone Knife, I need a more handy tool." He picked up a granite stone the size of a fist. "Using it directly for striking lacks precision and control. We need a tool that can more accurately transmit force."