The pike not coming out isn't really a big deal.

Chen Wen didn't intend to cast a net here anyway.

But since it showed up, Chen Wen had an idea.

He went back to the shelter directly and took out the thorn net he brought.

Seeing Chen Wen was about to fish, after dragging the bighorn sheep back to the camp, Hua Yun planned to help.

"Tend to your own tasks."

Chen Wen refused Hua Yun's kind offer: "While it's still daylight, start roasting the mutton, we haven't eaten much in two days."

"Also, for the shelter, remember to spread these spruce leaves on it; they'll keep it warm."

After speaking, Chen Wen cut a piece of mutton and headed to the riverbank with the thorn net.

Ten minutes later.

Chen Wen arrived at the riverbank and began fixing the thorn net.

He picked and chose along the riverbank, finding a suitable spruce.

After a bout of chopping, Chen Wen chopped down the spruce, removed the branches, leaving only the trunk.

He then tied the thorn net to the trunk.

This was the complete form of the thorn net.

Chen Wen tied the piece of mutton he'd cut off to the thorn net and submerged the thorn net in a relatively deep area.

Then, Chen Wen found a few large stones to secure the thorn net.

"That should do it."

Chen Wen clapped his hands and quickly returned to camp before dark.

...

"Is the net set?"

Hua Yun, seeing Chen Wen return, handed him a skewer of mutton.

Smelling the fragrant, hot bighorn mutton, Chen Wen didn't bother talking, he devoured it first.

To survive the winter, bighorn sheep also eat more to increase their fat reserves.

The bighorn mutton now was a perfect mix of fat and lean meat.

The fat wasn't greasy, and the lean wasn't tough, almost perfect except for the gamey taste.

While eating, Chen Wen mumbled: "Yes, the net is set, but it's uncertain if the pike will fall for it."

Hua Yun nodded, watching the boiling water over the campfire, quickly taking the pot down.

During this time, Chen Wen selected the bighorn sheep entry.

[Targeting Nature's Creation - Dall Sheep, initiating plunder!]

[Plundering... plundering complete!]

[Please choose one of the following three entries]

[Clifftop (Blue): You prefer living on unshielded cliffs]

[Note: What's wrong with cliffs? They're high and open, super lovely here, okay? - Dall Sheep]

[Duel (Blue): You like determining breeding rights through dueling with the same sex]

[Note: Let's have an exhilarating duel! The winner lives in glory, the loser shatters into pieces! - Dall Sheep]

[Thick Skin (Blue): Your skin thickens, becomes more resilient and less prone to injury]

[Note: Want to withstand blows? Then have thick skin! - Dall Sheep]

[Make a choice or abandon within a minute! Delaying will automatically select the first entry!]

No choice, had to select [Thick Skin].

Opening his eyes, Chen Wen opened a can of corn.

He shared half with Hua Yun, finishing the remaining can himself.

"It's really good, sweet, definitely high in calories."

Chen Wen said, relishing the taste.

But the remaining three cans were to be saved for later, this one mainly served as a bowl for Chen Wen.

Half a can of corn, a heap of roasted mutton, and a can of hot tea.

Chen Wen was about ninety percent full.

Starving for two days, this meal was extremely satisfying.

"Continue on tomorrow?"

Chen Wen asked Hua Yun.

According to the plan, they were to stay put once they reached the Yukon River.

The Yukon River was deep, low-lying, and rich in food resources.

Surviving there for a while, stockpiling food, then making sleds once the river froze for continued progression.

This was their plan.

Hua Yun nodded, looking at the forest: "When I was collecting firewood, I roughly checked the surroundings; there's not much game here, not even any animal trails visible."

"Animal trails?"

A new term appeared.

Hua Yun explained: "It's the paths animals take, animal trails are noticeable, usually vegetation-free, and the exposed paths are animal trails."

"Got it."

Thinking it over, Chen Wen said: "When we leave tomorrow, I'll retrieve the thorn net and see if I can catch a beaver, which is active at night and dawn."

Hearing this, Hua Yun nodded.

At this moment, the Golden Eagle suddenly asked: "What's a beaver?"

Chen Wen pondered and drew a rough sketch of a beaver on the ground by the firelight.

This sparked the Golden Eagle's interest.

"Hey, I recognize this; I've caught it before!"

Hearing the Golden Eagle, Chen Wen was surprised.

Beavers are herbivores, a common prey for many predators.

In the Yukon Territory, grey wolves fancy hunting beavers.

But an eagle capturing beavers, this was a first for Chen Wen.

"Can you?"

When Hua Yun stepped away from the campfire, Chen Wen closed the recording device and asked.

The Golden Eagle flapped its wings, disliking Chen Wen's doubt.

It was brimming with confidence: "Don't worry, I've hunted beavers many times!"

"They're stupid, slow on land—one dive, and I can pretty much crush them."

Hearing this, Chen Wen momentarily trusted it.

However, Chen Wen worried the eagle might fly away.

Thinking it over, he asked: "Do you want to leave?"

"Leave? To where?"

The Golden Eagle was momentarily taken aback.

Chen Wen said: "To where you used to be, I can let you go while my companion isn't back."

After a moment of silence, the Golden Eagle shook its head: "Not leaving, not leaving; there's plenty of meat here, you can heal and entertain me—apart from not finding a partner, life here is much better than before!"

"Besides... I couldn't find a partner before, so staying here is quite nice."

After finishing, the Golden Eagle cautiously glanced at Chen Wen: "You mustn't drive me away! I can spot you guys from the sky anytime!"

Goodness, has it settled here now?

"Alright, alright, I won't make you leave."

Chen Wen said, untying the rope directly.

The Golden Eagle didn't fly off but landed on Chen Wen instead.

It contentedly said: "Moreover, you're soft and warm, far comfier than my previous nest. That place was eerily cold, the wind howled daily, giving me headaches—I don't know why I even lived there."

Golden Eagles love nesting on cliffs, often dwelling in the same nest for life.

Compared to the meticulous Yellow-headed Blackbird and the neatness-loving White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden Eagles are indeed quite messy.

"So it's settled; I'll stick with you, and you'll provide good food, and I'll help deal with these critters."

The Golden Eagle said proudly: "Except for those packs of sharp-beaked beasts, I can tackle any other prey for you!"

Packs of sharp-beaked beasts, likely referring to the grey wolves?

Golden Eagles can handle coyotes, but packs of grey wolves are challenging for them.

"Alright, I'll look forward to your performance tomorrow."

Not long after, Hua Yun returned.

Seeing Chen Wen had unbound the controlling rope on the Golden Eagle, she was slightly puzzled: "Tamed so quickly?"

"Yes, it's much more understanding than the Cooper's Hawk; I'll try hunting with it tomorrow morning."

Chen Wen lied smoothly.

Yet, the Golden Eagle was persistently asking: "What's a Cooper's Hawk? What's being understanding? Tell me?"

Listening to the Golden Eagle's chatter, Chen Wen suddenly felt uneasy.

If they encountered another rare animal during this survival period, it might make their ears ache from the noise!

"No more talk, sleep time."

Chen Wen decisively ended the conversation, getting into his sleeping bag.

Hua Yun shook her head slightly, taking her bow and settling by the campfire.

Once at the treeline, they couldn't just sleep the night away as they had at higher altitudes.

Here, they might encounter predators, so taking turns for night watch was necessary.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.