Starting from Robinson Crusoe

The prolonged high-intensity travel had exhausted Chen Zhou’s energy; when he closed his eyes, it was already the next morning when he awoke.

Approaching early winter, the sun in the sky seemed weak and listless.

There were still a few glowing coals in the campfire, emitting some warmth, while the cold wind howled through the Black Forest, rushing toward the distant Broken Cliff.

The Saw-toothed Tigers favored the cooler weather and were playing not far away.

Seeing Chen Zhou sit up, Paul, who was handling the prey, smiled and waved a greeting.

He had stayed up since Chen Zhou returned yesterday, even managing to catch a small deer, with a tired look on his face now, but undoubtedly in a good mood.

"Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?"

Stretching, Chen Zhou walked over to Paul and started helping him process the prey.

"Forgot." Paul grinned sheepishly.

...

The established goals had been achieved, and now each day was colder than the last.

Moreover, the animal community near the tundra was limited, with a lack of vitamin-rich and fatty plant fruits. The sources of carbohydrates and fats could not be guaranteed. After lunch, seeing Paul still in good shape, Chen Zhou planned to set off before it got too late to climb up the Broken Cliff.

Once it got dark, getting Paul, whose one leg could barely exert force, to the top would be much more challenging.

And they still had to get the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger up there, which would take time.

As for searching for coal, silently calculating in his mind, Chen Zhou felt like they were running out of time.

They could at most carry only twenty to thirty pounds of coal, reserved for pottery making. Even if they could mine several hundred or thousand pounds within a day or two, transporting it to the top of the cliff and back to the shelter was another issue.

Besides helping Paul up the cliff and getting the Saw-toothed Tiger up, Chen Zhou was also thinking about another matter—

Dealing with the spoils left by the Indian pair.

Time was tight then; he only had time to handle the scene and no time to carefully see what he had gained, nor did he have the opportunity to search the Indians’ clothing for small items hidden within. He hung the bundle containing the spoils on a tree.

Now, with the supplies in hand, a comfortable sleep, and a full stomach, he needed to retrieve the spoils before leaving the Black Forest. In case he found some seasonings among the Indians’ belongings, they could enjoy a little culinary delight.

Although Indian cuisine is often known for its poor appearance and hygiene, Indian spices are inherently good.

...

Having set the plan, Chen Zhou decided to get Paul and the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger up the cliff first.

He had night vision capability, so even as darkness fell, navigating the Black Forest wouldn’t be a problem. If the sun set too early, he could still complete the plan on his own.

With his faster speed, he left the Black Forest first and reached the edge of the cliff to observe.

Fortunately, at the point where the Broken Cliff extended, the slope wasn’t as steep, and due to natural erosion and collapse, it had formed three ascending layers.

The bottommost layer was about 30 meters from the ground, with a "rest area" approximately 2 meters wide after climbing up. There were two more narrower "steps" further up.

When reaching the topmost step, although there was still a slope, one could walk normally without using hands for support.

The three levels of steps reduced Chen Zhou’s workload, making route creation a simple task.

After confirming that the rocks on the route were sturdy and stable with a personal climb, it wasn’t long before Chen Zhou had Paul and the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger up at the top of the cliff.

Then, tirelessly, he transported some fresh meat and firewood up for Paul to start a fire and cook, before heading into the Black Forest along the route he remembered, to find his spoils.

...

In less than a day, the Black Forest had returned to eternal silence.

At the moment the beacon light extinguished, every challenger coveting supplies felt their hearts sink into the abyss.

Having lost hope, they searched the forest in vain throughout the night, eventually leaving empty-handed and disappointed from this place of heartache.

Chen Zhou advanced in a straight line at the fastest speed, only occasionally stopping to collect some coal, never wasting time.

Before long, he reached the site where the Indians had a falling out, where he had reaped the rewards, and successfully retrieved the bundle containing the spoils.

On the way back, he took a detour, collecting a total of about 50 pounds of coal, then climbed back up the Broken Cliff.

...

The difference between the cliff’s summit and its base was like being in two different seasons.

The moss around the tundra appeared either gray or black, with most showing signs of lifelessness.

Looking far into the distance, dense clouds filled the sky, stars were obscured, and the entire land exuded an indescribable desolation.

Here, animals had almost disappeared entirely.

Rocks, dried-up shallow puddles, and dying moss dominated the view. Even spotting a small shrub could be considered a rare find.

After nightfall, the exposed tundra endured the cold wind all night, causing the campfire to flicker, as if struggling to hold itself upright.

If it weren’t for the pressure cooker, which was well-suited for cooking in such a climate, relying on just the fire, Chen Zhou and Paul might have gone without a hot meal for a long time.

Both were familiar with winters, having grown up at high latitudes—one in Siberia, the other on the vast Inner Mongolia Grassland.

They were well acquainted with winter.

That night, around the campfire, hugging the fluffy Saw-toothed Tiger, and listening to the howling wind, they both knew.

Winter was coming soon.

...

The next morning, Chen Zhou, who had been on night watch, woke Paul. They set off on their journey home with their plentiful harvest.