A full week had passed since he'd heard a wolf howl right after landing, and in all that time, there hadn't been another trace of a wolf pack.
He never would have imagined that the next time he heard a howl, it would be right near his shelter!
Lin Chen's nerves instantly tensed up, and his mind began to simulate how he would react to an encounter with a wolf pack.
'I definitely can't outrun them. If it's one against two, I have the sharp Engineer Shovel, so I'm not too worried.'
'The real problem would be running into a whole pack. That would be a disaster.'
After a moment's hesitation, he decided to linger by the river for a while and kill some time before heading back.
'If the wolf pack is around the shelter, going back now would most likely mean a confrontation.'
Since he couldn't go back, he might as well find something to do by the river.
He set his gathered ingredients on the riverbank, collected a good amount of wild wheat and some flourishing weeds, bundled them into a bale, and then hung it from a branch in midair.
Lin Chen walked about ten meters away, took the hunting bow off his back, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the grass target from a distance.
Following what he'd seen on TV, he raised both hands above his head, fit the arrow's nock onto the string, and lowered his hands as he drew the bow until they were level with his shoulders.
The upper part of the bowstring lightly touched his chin. He hooked two fingers around the string but didn't pinch the arrow's tail, ensuring it wouldn't be skewed by external force upon release.
He'd only ever used cheap, ten-arrows-for-a-few-bucks-type target sets before, with flimsy bows—nothing like the relatively professional one he held now.
The bow's grip had a special groove to rest the arrow shaft and a small peephole for aiming. As long as he set the arrow in place, he didn't have to worry about whether it was aligned correctly.
Since this was just practice, he didn't dare pull with too much force, lest the arrow miss the target and fly too far. It would be a huge hassle if he couldn't find it again.
The production team had only provided a total of twenty arrows, and each one was an invaluable treasure.
WHOOSH
His index and middle fingers released. The arrow carved an arc through the air at a decent speed, grazed the grass target, and plunged diagonally into the ground behind it.
He nocked the second arrow on the string and slightly adjusted his aim.
WHOOSH
The arrowhead hit the target dead-on, its fletching still trembling slightly.
'So that's how it works. This is how you aim...'
He felt he was gradually getting the hang of it. Every subsequent arrow hit its mark, landing closer and closer to the center.
After retrieving all the arrows, he took five steps back and began his aiming practice once more.
"Not bad. The kid's very cautious and considers things from all angles. Just what you'd expect from a chef."
「Inside the wooden cabin.」
Seeing Lin Chen practicing his Archery on a target made of weeds, Daniel nodded in satisfaction, his eyes filled with admiration.
"I was wondering why he was the only one putting off hunting, but now I see it's because he genuinely doesn't know how to shoot a bow."
"Normally, rookies in the wild use tree trunks as targets, but that actually causes a lot of wear and tear on the arrowheads."
"You all know how hard a tree trunk is. Even with an axe, it would take dozens, if not hundreds, of swings to make a large gash. It's even worse for a tiny little arrowhead."
"The fact that he thought to use weeds to make a target for practice shows that he planned this out long ago. He came prepared."
In previous seasons of the show, although every contestant would map out their own adventure plan beforehand, very few were actually able to stick to it once they entered the forest.
He had truly never seen a contestant like Lin Chen, who went about his days in such a methodical, step-by-step manner.
"It's so strange. This is the first time I've seen a contestant with such a strong sense of showmanship. It's like he knows what the audience likes to see, what they want to see. Every move he makes is unexpected."
Robert nodded in agreement. "Other contestants all emphasize how much they know about wilderness survival, so they start hunting and building shelters right away. That's normal."
"He's different. From the very beginning, he's been emphasizing that he's a chef. Everything he does each day revolves around gathering and preparing ingredients, as if he's actually trying to whip up some professional-grade cuisine in the middle of the jungle."
"And only now that he's heard a wolf howl does he think to start practicing his Archery. It's the kind of thing that makes you can't help but look forward to what will happen when he finally does run into a wolf pack."
"Nothing to worry about," Daniel said with a noncommittal shrug. "He has the Bear-Repellent Spray. If it really comes to a crisis, all he has to do is pull it out and give it a couple of sprays. Whether it's a wild wolf or a wild bear, it'll run away in a panic."
"That's true, but the scene the audience is hoping for is definitely watching the kid shoot a wolf with his bow. Why don't we make a bet?"
"Bet on what? Whether he'll use the bow or the Bear-Repellent Spray?"
"No, no, no," Robert said, wagging his finger with a sly smile. "Let's bet on whether he can kill a wild wolf at all!"
"Are you kidding me? He's a total rookie who has to practice just to aim straight. You expect him to kill a wild wolf? Please. The packs around here are the world-famous Yukon Wolves and Tundra Wolves. An adult wolf is even bigger than he is. There's no suspense here at all!"
Daniel let out a disdainful chuckle. "Don't forget, I know the situation in the Alaska Forest like the back of my hand. Given how wolves hold a grudge, if you dare to provoke them, they won't stop hunting you unless you have the ability to wipe out their entire pack."
"After all that talk, the truth is you're just scared to bet, aren't you?"
"Bullshit! Who's scared to bet? I'm just telling you this is a bet whose outcome is already set in stone! Since you're so eager to gift me something, go on, what are the stakes?"
"Dinner at a three-star Michelin restaurant. How about it?"
"No problem!"
"Then it's happily decided," Robert said, extending his hand and shaking Daniel's lightly. "I bet he won't make a move on the wolf pack."
"Then I bet he... what? Hey, what the hell? What did I just hear?"
Daniel, who had been certain of victory, stared wide-eyed in utter disbelief.
"Hahaha, just a little bit of mind games, Daniel. You may have a wealth of wilderness survival experience, but you're still too naive."
Robert patted his shoulder with a grin. "I suggest you start making a reservation now. The more famous three-star Michelin restaurants are usually booked up for months in advance."
"You cunning city slicker!"
Although he'd been tricked, Daniel wasn't genuinely angry.
It was just one meal, which he could certainly afford. Besides, it was thanks to Robert's recommendation that he'd been able to join the filming of this show in the first place. Otherwise, he never would have been able to get his wife and kids a new house and car.
All things considered, it was only right that he treat him to a meal.
"Fine, I'll book it! I'll make the call right now. I'm not like some people who have such a devious mind!"