CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 9: THE FIRST NIGHT

Put the bighorn sheep on the ground.

Chen Wen took a look, this bighorn sheep was dead beyond recovery.

"It’s still warm at the moment."

Chen Wen smiled and said, "If after death, its body could maintain this temperature, we could definitely make it through the night."

"Hurry up, while there’s still time, if it doesn’t work, we can think of something else."

Hua Yun didn’t say much, but took out her dagger and started processing the sheep’s carcass.

As a hunter, Hua Yun was quite skilled in handling game.

She deftly pierced the bighorn sheep’s neck with the dagger, then sliced downward with force.

The steaming innards of the bighorn sheep immediately spilled out.

This bloody and disgusting scene might make many uncomfortable.

But Chen Wen and Hua Yun remained unfazed.

Chen Wen specifically picked up the heart, explaining, "The heart is one of the easier organs to process, and it can replenish some trace elements. In the future, keep the innards of any game."

"Sure."

Hua Yun agreed, naturally knowing the benefits of the heart.

Then she pulled out the remaining innards.

Once the innards were removed, the robust body of the bighorn sheep deflated somewhat.

"This definitely won’t fit."

Hua Yun said confidently.

Chen Wen gestured with his hand, saying, "Don’t worry, I’ll split the spine with an axe, leaving only the skin and wool connected, which should allow it to expand a bit more."

Once said, it was done.

Chen Wen picked up the sharp axe, and with Hua Yun, they pried open the bighorn sheep’s ribcage, revealing the entire abdominal cavity.

Then, Chen Wen used the axe to split the already broken spine, leaving only the outer skin and wool.

This made the bighorn sheep’s body considerably larger.

"Want to try?"

Chen Wen looked up, signaling Hua Yun to drape the sheep’s carcass over herself like a blanket.

Hua Yun held back her nausea and, with Chen Wen’s help, crawled underneath the sheep.

After a while, Hua Yun’s muffled voice came from underneath, "It’s okay, I can curl up and sleep, and it really does block the wind."

"Great, come out."

After letting Hua Yun climb out, the two carried the sheep’s carcass to the flat slope they had chosen earlier.

Hua Yun’s camouflage jacket was stained with a lot of blood.

And her body began to emit the smell of the bighorn sheep.

...

"Hua Yun is truly... an extraordinary woman!"

Lin Jiawei originally intended to say tomboy, but Luo Yao’s stern look made him change his words.

"Hmph."

Luo Yao was somewhat annoyed, "If this part gets aired without mosaics, Yun’s reputation might be affected."

Lin Jiawei, hearing this, comforted, "Miss Luo, this actually has a positive impact. There’s precedent for using animal carcasses for warmth — I recall a scene like that in The Revenant."

"Let’s hope so."

Luo Yao sighed, beginning to ponder how to minimize the negative impact.

...

They carried the bighorn back to the shelter.

Due to the lack of fire, Chen Wen also didn’t want to eat raw food.

He wasn’t in a hurry to get information on the bighorn sheep.

"So it’s set for tonight then, you’ll sleep under the sheep, and I’ll sleep outside."

Chen Wen said.

Hua Yun asked, "Can you manage?"

"I’ll be just fine."

Chen Wen didn’t explain.

Ever since landing, he had been using [Feather (Owl)].

Under the effect of [Disguise], Hua Yun couldn’t see the thick and dense feathers on Chen Wen’s body.

If she could see them, she wouldn’t ask.

After all, Chen Wen could now essentially be considered as wearing an extra down jacket.

As long as he crawled into his sleeping bag and covered his head with his backpack, he was even warmer than Hua Yun.

After settling the sleeping arrangements for the night.

The two began to discuss plans for the next day.

"I feel we should stick to the original plan; we’ll cross the ice field down to the tree line, camp near the Yukon River for a few days. Based on the data from the program team, the Yukon River is only frozen for a short time around now."

Chen Wen said slowly, "Over these days, we need to stockpile food, build a sled-like device, and once the ice layer on the river is thick enough, we’ll follow the Yukon River downstream along the ice."

"We have three months in total, there’s no rush."

Hua Yun nodded slightly.

She agreed with the plan as well.

"Then it’s settled, we’ll camp in the forest around the Yukon River, you’ll handle building the shelter and other camp chores, and I’ll go hunting!"

After Hua Yun finished speaking.

Chen Wen asked, "Need any help?"

Hua Yun confidently said, "As long as we don’t face a pack of wolves or an adult brown bear, everything on this land will become our food!"

Chen Wen loved hearing this.

"Then I’ll rely on you for food, I’ll wait in camp for the big guy to carry us forward."

Chen Wen chuckled.

He loved this rhythm.

Sit tight and just collect the entries.

At this point, the sky was already darkening.

It was still early, but without fire and light, there was nowhere to go.

"You should get inside, call me if anything happens, although nothing much will happen here, bears and wolves won’t come up..."

Chen Wen was interrupted by Hua Yun almost immediately.

Hua Yun sternly said, "The wilderness is unpredictable, never say things like that."

"Okay."

Chen Wen knew when to heed advice.

...

As night fell, the frigid wind began to sweep across the mountain.

Chen Wen crawled into his sleeping bag, covered his head with his backpack, and didn’t feel too cold.

After all, they were wearing pretty thick clothing and good quality.

Plus, the [Cold Resistance] helped with enduring the cold, and the warmth brought by [Feather (Owl)].

Made it easy for Chen Wen to fend off the cold wind.

...

On the program side.

Abel was a meeting fanatic, pulling his assistants into yet another meeting.

The main agenda was to discuss the progress of each team and some upcoming arrangements.

"Currently, Hank’s team is progressing the fastest. They have crossed the ice field and reached the tree line; followed by the couple’s team, who have reached the ice field’s edge; next are Hua Yun’s team and the remaining teams who are on par, all in the alpine meadow area."

After summarizing the progress, Abel chuckled, "Our investor — Mr. Belmont has already sent a team ahead to the middle section of the Yukon River to check the environment, obtaining firsthand data for the contestants. This data will be provided to every contestant for their reference."

"If there are no other issues, we can wrap up the meeting."

The group made some muted complaints of no issues and then dispersed from the room.

However, just as the group scattered.

The couple’s team — Yang Feng and Jenny’s two assistants exchanged a glance.

Jenny’s assistant sent out a message: [Belmont has made a move!]

After a moment, he received a reply: [Our people have already followed, don’t worry]

"Barring any unforeseen events."

Yang Feng’s assistant quietly said, "They will reach that area in twenty days."

"Exactly, by then we’ll have someone to relay the message. Using the map that Jenny carries, we’ll locate the treasure faster than Belmont’s people!"

Jenny’s assistant nodded.

Yang Feng’s assistant chuckled, saying, "The promised reward, don’t forget about it."

"Don’t worry, Mr. Yang will get the gold he wants."

Jenny’s assistant said, secretly amused.

Gold?

That was just an extra to the treasure!

The true treasure was the map of the hidden mines!

In the vast wilderness of the Yukon, there were numerous untapped mineral veins.

During their heist, the seven-member group acquired the locations of dozens of mineral veins!

In the years since, some mines had been discovered and excavated, but many more remained buried deep in the wilderness.

And the aim of Belmont and that gentleman is these buried mineral veins!