King of the Wilderness

He carefully placed this unexpected bounty into his backpack, ate a few to replenish his strength, and recalibrated his direction.

This encounter, although it took him less than half an hour, was extraordinarily meaningful.

It not only provided him with a precious food reserve but, more importantly, once again demonstrated that within a complex ecosystem, any crisis might turn into a survival opportunity.

He glanced at the giant tree still providing shelter to countless lives with respect in his heart, then turned and continued towards his intended target at a quicker pace.

After continuing for about half an hour, his steps stopped once more in an open area under the forest where the light was slightly brighter.

This time, what attracted him was a splash of vivid color.

On the fallen tree trunk covered with moss, several orchids with peculiar postures blossomed quietly.

They did not have tall stems but grew almost flush against the moss. The leaves, with deep green mottled patterns, grew in two rows like an open book.

And in the center of the leaf cluster, a slender flower spike stood gracefully, crowned with an unusually shaped flower.

The petals exhibited a dreamy light purple, adorned with tiny chocolate-colored spots.

The most astonishing aspect was its specialized lip, evolved into a deep pocket-like pouch structure, full and round, glistening with a waxy sheen.

Lin Yu’an slowly crouched down, his face displaying a focused expression as if appreciating a work of art. He didn’t get too close, just recorded the beauty from afar.

"I must be very careful, this is a slipper orchid, the most enchanting and endangered family among orchidaceae plants."

"Because of their iconic pouch, they are also called slipper orchids."

He zoomed in, letting the unique flower structure clearly appear in the image.

"Look at this pouch, it’s not a simple decoration, but a highly specialized insect trap."

"Its color and emitted special scent attract specific insects, like certain types of hoverflies."

"When insects are lured and try to land on the slippery lip, it’s easy to slip into the pouch."

"The structure inside this pouch is more cleverly designed, the inner wall is very smooth, making it difficult for insects to climb out. The only exit is located at the rear upper side of the pouch."

"When insects struggle to squeeze through this sole path, they must pass by the flower’s stigma and anther, inevitably smearing or leaving behind pollen."

"It’s not to consume the insects but to employ deceitful means to compel them to complete pollination for it. This is one of the pinnacle intelligences of plant co-evolution."

He carefully identified the flower’s form and the leaf’s patterns, continuing, "From its morphology, it’s likely to be Paphiopedilum applesianum or a closely related variant."

"They are typical epiphytes, preferring to grow on such semi-shade, well-ventilated, and moisture-retaining moss-covered fallen woods or rocks."

His tone at this moment became unusually serious, and his eyes sharpened.

"Ailao Mountain is one of the last refuges for these rare orchids."

"Precisely because of their beauty and uniqueness, they face enormous poaching pressure in the wild."

"I want to emphasize again, all wild slipper orchid species are listed in the ’National Key Protected Wild Plants List,’ at least as nationally second-level protected plants."

"Simultaneously, they are all included in Appendix I of the ’Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’ (CITES)."

He paused, articulating clearly, "What’s Appendix I? It means strictly prohibiting any commercial international trade of species, with protection levels identical to the giant panda."

"So, don’t underestimate it for being just a small orchid," his voice contained a hint of cold warning.

"According to Article 344 of our nation’s Criminal Law [Crime of Endangering National Key Protected Plants], illegally cutting or destroying national key protected plants results in imprisonment ranging from three to seven years."

"This means, if you dig up such an orchid in the wild out of greed or carelessness, what awaits you is years of imprisonment."

"For a trophy that you ultimately cannot nurture to survive at home, sacrificing your freedom is the most foolish deal in the world."

He slowly stood up, stepped back a bit, as if fearing accidentally touching the orchid.

"Remember, the more beautiful things are in the wild, the more fragile they tend to be, and the more you must keep your distance."

"They don’t belong in anyone’s flower pot but rather to this ancient forest. What we can do is record this beauty with a camera, then quietly leave them in peace here."

He took one last look at those shining purple slippers in the forest light patches, and continued on his journey.

Along the way, the primal and wildness of Ailao Mountain’s interior unfolded before him in a more direct manner.

He once caught a glimpse of a white-bellied golden pheasant with a magnificent tail, fluttering its wings into the dense shrubs, leaving only a sharp warning cry behind.

He also discovered a string of clear, petal-like hoof prints on the moist ground.

"Red muntjac," he squatted down, comparing the size with his finger, softly judged, "Judging by the freshness, it left here less than half an hour ago."