King of the Wilderness

Soon, the enticing aroma of the first true meat feast began to permeate the cave.

It was a scent of meat mixed with the smokiness of firewood, enough to awaken the deep-seated human instinctual craving for cooked food!

The fat in the snake meat melted under high heat, turning into golden oil, seeping from the gaps in the muscle, dripping onto the charcoal below, producing a sizzling sound like a delightful symphony.

The surface of the meat changed from its initial creamy white to an alluring golden yellow, with a hint of browning at the edges.

He took down the skewer that roasted the earliest, blew on the heat, displayed the golden, slightly charred snake meat sizzling with oil before the camera, and then couldn’t wait to take a bite.

The texture of the snake meat brought surprise the moment it touched the teeth; the slightly charred outer layer carried a smoky scent, while the inner meat was firm and elastic.

Each chew allowed the plump muscle fibers to rebound, yet it wasn’t tough like tendons.

It beautifully combined two textures—both the firmness of chicken and the tenderness of fish—but overall, the texture was even more delicate than both.

He closed his eyes and savored it carefully.

There’s no earthy taste at all, not even the slight aquatic smell people often mention. The mouth was filled with the pure, primitive flavor of protein, carrying a faint, scallop-like sweetness.

He nodded with satisfaction, and with a stick, pushed out a roasted banana core from the fire.

Splitting open the steaming hot banana core reveals a texture akin to delicate mashed potatoes beneath the charred black shell.

He tasted a bite; indeed, after the moisture reduced, the banana core’s texture became doughy, the sweetness more concentrated, with a unique botanical aroma and a smoky flavor imparted by the charcoal fire.

A bite of savory grilled meat, a bite of soft, sweet banana core. Protein, fat, carbohydrates—these three vital energy sources for life—perfectly combined at this moment.

While eating, he shared his feelings and analysis with the camera, his voice slightly muffled due to chewing, yet filled with satisfaction: "I can responsibly tell you now that this lead-colored water snake’s flavor far exceeds my expectations!"

He swallowed the food in his mouth, "Many people think snake meat, especially water snake, has an earthy taste, which is a common misconception."

"The stream we are in is mountain fresh water, with very high oxygen content, crystal-clear to the bottom, almost devoid of silt and humus. This fundamentally prevents substances causing an earthy smell."

"More importantly is its diet," he continued to explain, "Its staple food is Stonefish, and Stonefish eat algae on rocks. This is an extremely clean food chain."

"You are what you eat; this Law always applies in nature. Clean food results in clean meat quality."

"Of course, handling techniques are also crucial. In the morning, I tried to drain as much blood as possible. Blood is the primary source of fishy taste in any meat. Extreme freshness coupled with meticulous handling ultimately presents the finest original flavor of the ingredient."

He picked up the second skewer, a genuine smile appearing on his face, "So what I’m tasting now is not some strange wild flavor, but the essence gifted by this mountain stream ecosystem!"

"This meal is enough to restore all my energy to face tomorrow’s challenges."

Then, he spoke no more, focusing on enjoying this hard-earned feast.

After dinner, the fullness from the energy quickly dispelled fatigue and chill. Lin Yu’an, not showing any laxness, immediately had his rejuvenated brain start running at high speed, reviewing the gains and losses of today, planning the upcoming route.

He adjusted the camera to a good angle, focusing the lens on the flickering flames and himself.

"Challenge day two ends," his voice low and powerful, penetrating the crackling sound of the campfire, "Today, moved about two kilometers up along the creek valley, far from the final target, Shimen Gorge."

"Ten days of challenge time, with eight days left. At this speed, time is definitely not enough."

He picked up the sharpened Stone Spear, slowly rotating it in the firelight, its sharp tip reflecting a chilling gleam.

"Because we encountered an unforeseen variable," he lifted his eyes, gaze sharp towards the lens, "Today found this area to be a hunting ground of a top predator."

"The correct approach is to leave this area as soon as possible. So I must speed up the journey, and high-intensity marching requires high-energy food reserves. Besides wild bananas, I must have portable protein."

Without further explanation, he directly demonstrated his plan through action.

He walked to the sandstone used as a chopping board, picked up the previously processed snake head and remaining spine. The night was long, ample time to turn these scraps into survival tools.

Selected a piece of the snake’s lower jawbone, the few inward-curved teeth were perfectly shaped. Then, using a flint piece like a small saw, carefully cut out a bone slice with a stout barbed tooth.

The next step was meticulous grinding, patiently scraping back and forth on the small bone slice by the fire.

Not simply sharpening the teeth, but carefully carving a deeper groove below the tooth tip as a barb, also smoothing the other end of the bone slice into a suitable notch for tying the line.

Within fifteen minutes, a bone fishhook the size of a fingernail began to take shape. Primitive yet seemingly effective.

"As for the fishing line..."

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(Hit a writing block, feels like many things have been written in earlier parts, hard to break out of that framework, and lacks external points of excitement. Any good suggestions from you guys, besides livestreaming?)