Wilderness Survival with Druid System

"What the heck is this?"

Chen Wen was startled by something that suddenly flew towards him.

He picked up his dagger, instantly going into a defensive stance.

But once he saw clearly what it was under the firelight, Chen Wen breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn, thought it was something else, turns out it's just an owlet.

Chen Wen set down the dagger and picked up his camera to aim at the unexpected guest.

The owlet, the smallest owl in the world, looks almost like a sparrow.

And this thing has a round head and big eyes that would make a certain singer named Li jealous.

At the moment, the owlet stood on the main beam, tilting its head to look at Chen Wen, looking adorably naive.

In reality, however, it's a true raptor!

Don't be fooled by its small size; when it gets angry, it can hunt prey as large as itself.

This desert's mice, centipedes, scorpions...

They're all on the owlet's menu!

However, for humans, owlets are indeed not threatening.

They're too small and not poisonous.

So Chen Wen didn't mind.

"This thing is nocturnal, probably attracted by the firelight here,"

mumbled Chen Wen, as he no longer paid attention to the owlet.

He crawled inside the shelter to rest.

But the owlet seemed quite interested in Chen Wen's side.

It hopped around on the main beam for a while, then flew up to the giant column.

After circling around the column, the owlet quickly discovered the vacant woodpecker nest.

The owlet tilted its head, inspecting the hole, seemingly curious why no bird lived there.

After a moment's hesitation, the owlet carefully hopped inside.

After examining the nest interior, the owlet flew away from the giant column and began its night-time hunting.

...

Survival, Day Four.

Upon waking up, Chen Wen rubbed his stomach.

Unlike the previous island, survival here emphasizes endurance.

Enduring hunger, enduring thirst, even enduring the heat.

He missed the first day on the island.

Chen Wen shook his head and crawled out of the shelter.

Today, he planned to set snare traps around the water source area.

As Chen Wen emerged from the shelter, a series of continuous gentle calls reached his ears from above.

Melodious and pleasant.

Compared to the woodpecker's call that resembles human laughter,

this was heavenly music in comparison!

Is it another new bird moving in?

Chen Wen heard the sound coming from above the giant column.

He looked up, and at the nest's entrance, an owlet was tilting its head at him.

But it looked very weary.

The call was from it.

After greeting Chen Wen, the owlet turned around and disappeared into the nest.

"Looks like the woodpecker's nest has been occupied by the owlet,"

Chen Wen said, shaking his head.

Unlike the woodpecker, as a member of the owl family, the owlet hunts at night and rests during the day.

Trying to hunt it at night is not practical.

Forget it, let it live here.

Owlets don't make much noise, and once food is plentiful, maybe it can even be tamed.

...

He arrived at the valley where the water source was located.

Chen Wen first went to fetch water.

Afterward, he began setting snare traps in the woods.

On the island, Chen Wen had learned some knowledge about identifying animal tracks from Yan Bian.

Before participating, he also reviewed some animal track identification techniques provided by Hua Yun.

But when it came to actual practice, faced with a ground overrun with fallen branches and weeds, Chen Wen was a bit bewildered.

Hmm...

If I can't precisely strike, then cover with fire!

With a wave of his hand, Chen Wen laid snare traps all over the places with more suspected animal tracks.

Once the traps were set, there was no more effort needed; setting more came at no additional cost.

Finally, near the outskirts of the valley, Chen Wen set the last two snare traps.

He dusted his hands off.

Chen Wen said, "The traps are set; next, I'll continue to explore the surroundings. Also, I plan to explore the area where the smoke rose earlier."

"That place is likely where another contestant is, and finding them might lead to something interesting."

If they were on friendly terms, they could temporarily join forces.

But if it was Gina or Char, who wanted to tear him apart, Chen Wen had countless ways to eliminate them both.

Simultaneously confiscating all their resources and tools to lighten the upcoming burdens.

...

After setting the traps, Chen Wen left the valley.

He decided to carry out last night's plan—to explore the surroundings.

Climbing over the ridge, Chen Wen relied on memory to determine the direction of the smoke from before.

It was slightly northwest of his current position.

With the direction confirmed, Chen Wen slowly made his way along the ridge.

...

"The first encounter is about to happen! And this fast!"

On the program team's side, seeing two red dots representing the contestants closing in, the person in charge couldn't help but look forward to it.

"Who is it?"

Someone asked.

The person in charge chuckled, "Chen Wen and Gaston."

Hiss!

Everyone drew in a sharp breath.

These two are the seed players!

Gaston's assistant, the pretty White lady, held her head.

Nobody knew Gaston's level better than her.

Compared to Chen Wen's demonstrated championship-caliber skills, Gaston was indeed lacking.

"Poor Gaston, is he going to be the second one eliminated?"

The female assistant sighed.

After landing, Chen Wen's closest distance was actually with Gina.

Gaston was much farther, making it nearly impossible to meet Chen Wen first.

But as the saying goes, life is unpredictable.

An unexpected seven-kilometer migration brought Chen Wen and Gaston face-to-face.

With a vast valley filled with giant columns, cactuses, and mesquite bushes between them,

conflict was unavoidable from the start.

As of now, Gaston had no idea Chen Wen was approaching.

He was humming a popular tune, using a stick to knock at the giant column's fruits, preparing for dinner.

...

A large area of giant columns!

And mesquite trees!

Chen Wen arrived at the slope and his eyes lit up.

The fruits of the giant columns and the beans of the mesquite trees can be considered the easiest food to find in this desert.

"Never mind anything else; just these many fruits make the trip worthwhile."

Chen Wen opened his backpack, found a piece of driftwood nearby, and began collecting.

Large amounts of mesquite beans and giant column fruits filled Chen Wen's backpack.

What a harvest!

Chen Wen estimated probably harvesting at least two pounds of mesquite beans!

These can be brought back, boiled into bean soup, or ground into flour to make bread.

Now that's real food! Real sustenance!

Since arriving in the desert, Chen Wen hadn't had a proper meal.

But while picking, Chen Wen suddenly heard a familiar sound.

Someone!

He was stunned, and through the cactus gaps, he saw a familiar face.

"Hey! It's you, kid!"

Chen Wen was amused.

The other party heard the voice and discovered Chen Wen as well.

"Chen Wen?"

Gaston was surprised too, "What a coincidence? You..."

Gaston, originally planning on small talk, watched Chen Wen slowly raise an entrenching tool with a peculiar smile on his face.

He was instantly dumbfounded.

No way? What's he gonna do?

Gaston trembled, and the beans in his hand spilled onto the ground.

Run!

Gaston, unarmed, was like a fish on the chopping board in front of the armed Chen Wen!

Seeing Gaston take off, Chen Wen chuckled, lowering the entrenching tool.

He didn't give chase.

Because Gaston would come back on his own.

Gaston ran for dozens of meters, glanced back to see Chen Wen wasn't following, but continuing to pick beans.

He couldn't help but ponder: why not chase him? Could it be that Chen Wen's leg was injured?

So meeting and picking up the weapon was for self-defense?

Gaston's eyes darted around and he stealthily made his way back.