King of the Wilderness

Chapter 79: Chapter 78: Champion from China!

As Klay chose to withdraw on the eighty-seventh day, the entire Wilderness Solo Living: Grizzly Mountain competition field had only Lin Yu’an’s solitary figure left.

But he was unaware of this, continuing his survival rhythm day by day on this frozen land.

Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away at the Los Angeles production center, huge screens played the rushes.

Mark, the chief director, watched the Chinese young man on screen checking traps in the snow, with a complex yet gratified smile on his face.

”It’s over.”

He said to Michelle King beside him.

”Yes, Mark, he won.”

”He won in a way that none of us could have anticipated, in such a formidable manner.”

Mark nodded, picking up the phone on the table.

Before officially bringing their champion home, there was a more important and meaningful matter to attend to.

He dialed the small apartment far away in Austin.

”Hello, is this Ms. Alia McKinley? This is Mark Johnson, the chief director of Wilderness Solo Living.”

On the other end, Alia’s heart tightened sharply, her breathing became rapid: ”Yes... yes! Mr. Mark, hello! Did Lin... did something happen to Lin?”

Mark gently laughed over the phone: ”No, Ms. McKinley, please take it easy. Lin, he’s very well, much better than any of us imagined.”

”I’m calling to tell you some good news... a huge surprise.”

”The last contestant competing against Lin this season, Clay Jenkins, has withdrawn due to health reasons.”

”So, I’m very honored to inform you—your husband has become the final champion of this season’s Wilderness Solo Living: Grizzly Mountain! He won the one million US Dollar prize!”

”What?” Alia was stunned, her brain went blank, almost unable to believe her ears.

”You... you mean... Lin, he won?” Her voice trembled.

Mark confirmed: ”Yes, he won. Not only did he endure to the end, but he did so in an awe-inspiring way. Everything he did in this wilderness will go down in history!”

After confirming this news, she covered her mouth, trying hard to control the tears in her eyes.

All her worries, longing, fears, all turned into void at this moment. Her Lin, her hero, he did it!

After her emotions had somewhat calmed, Mark continued, ”Ms. McKinley, we have a small plan. Three days from now, on Lin’s ninety-second day of survival, we will send a medical and filming team to bring him home.”

”We would like to invite you to join us in going to the Chilco Lakefront and personally give your husband this surprise. Will you join us?”

”I... I will! Of course, I will!” Alia agreed without hesitation, her voice filled with excitement and anticipation.

The time came to the ninety-second day.

On this day, the weather at the Chilco Lakefront was exceptionally clear, the sunlight shining on the snowy terrain, reflecting dazzling light.

Lin Yu’an, as usual, checked the traps and then sat at the entrance of his shelter, carefully sharpening his multitool with a whetstone.

At noon, a familiar hum of helicopter blades came from the horizon.

”Hmm? Another check-up?” Lin Yu’an looked up at the sky, thinking it was another routine medical visit.

However, as the helicopter got closer, he realized something was different.

This time, it was a larger helicopter than ever before.

The helicopter landed slowly on an open snowy field not far from the camp.

The cabin door opened, showing significantly more people than before—besides familiar faces like Michelle, security chief David, and Dr. Anderson, there were two photographers with professional cameras and several assistants.

Lin Yu’an thought the medical check-ups were getting more rigorous and comprehensive as time went on, so he didn’t think much of it and greeted them calmly.

Dr. Anderson, as usual, performed a detailed physical examination on him.

The results showed that his physical condition was still very healthy, although he’d lost some weight and lacked some vitamins.

After the examination, Michelle approached: ”Lin, congratulations on making it to the ninety-second day. As usual, we need to conduct an interview, asking about your feelings over these ninety days.”

Lin Yu’an nodded and sat on a wooden stake, while the two photographers immediately found the best position to focus the camera on him.

Michelle asked, ”First question, looking back over these ninety days, is there any piece of the ten items you brought that you regret or are thankful for?”

Lin Yu’an pondered for a moment and replied, ”I’m thankful I brought an extra piece of waterproof tarpaulin, which allowed me to make a canoe and thus have the adventure of exploration.”

”But if there’s something I regret, it’s not choosing a saw, which was a major oversight. This oversight has caused many hassles later.”

Michelle continued, ”Second question, regarding your strategy of investing heavily in building a luxurious shelter and even making pottery from the start, do you regret it now?”

Lin Yu’an chuckled and shook his head: ”Never. I came here not just for physical survival but also for psychological survival.”

”Chinese have a deep obsession with houses, me included, so a sturdy house where I’ve invested countless efforts into building became my mental solace and psychological cornerstone.”

”As for pottery, during the time when my food supply was temporarily stable, why not? I know some may not agree, but this is me, Lin Yu’an’s survival method.”

Michelle nodded in agreement, ”To those who support and question you, what would you like to say?”

Lin Yu’an’s gaze became sharp: ”To those who support me, no matter where you are, I can feel it, and you’re one of the sources of my enduring strength. I will remember it forever.”

”As for those who don’t approve of me...” he smirked disdainfully.

”They can beat it and go support the contestants they deem excellent instead of trying to show off in front of me. I don’t care at all about those who hide behind keyboards and only show off like fleas.”

The atmosphere during the interview froze slightly due to his strong response.

Michelle cleared her throat: ”Lastly, Lin, given your current state and supplies, how many more days do you think you can last?”

Lin Yu’an glanced at the direction of his shelter and calmly answered: ”I’ve adjusted my mental state very well, not as fragile as it was around forty days.”

”Food-wise, bear meat and deer meat combined, even at the most conservative estimate, is sufficient for me to eat for another month or more.”

”So, theoretically, as long as my food holds, I can keep going.”

However, just after he finished this sentence, security chief David suddenly stepped forward, his face carrying a relieved yet brilliant smile.

He said, ”Lin, actually... you don’t need to hold out another day.”

Lin Yu’an was stunned, somewhat puzzled looking at him.

David’s voice became loud and strong: ”Because all the others have already withdrawn. Lin Yu’an, you are the only Survivor of Wilderness Solo Living: Grizzly Mountain, the season’s champion!”

”Champion?”

Lin Yu’an’s eyes were instantly filled with incredible shock, dazedly looking at the smiling crew in front of him.

Just then, he felt a warm and familiar hand gently pat his shoulder.

Lin Yu’an’s body froze then slowly turned his head.

In the sunlight, the figure he missed for an untold time was standing cutely behind him.

Alia donned a thick down jacket, wearing that most familiar smile as bright as Texas sunshine, her light green eyes brimming with tears and endless love.

”Darling... I’m... here to take you home, my hero.”

—————

(The story of the first episode of Wilderness Solo Living has ended, but new stories are about to begin.)

(The following content goes as follows: Life Below Zero tells how the protagonist and other residents live in Alaska.)

(Wilderness Solo Living - Frozen Throne describes how the protagonist faces challenges from other strong champion contestants, also setting the stage for adopting a polar bear.)

(Montana Farm Chapter tells how the protagonist uses an information gap from past lives to make a fortune in the stock market and eventually binds interests with other capital, ultimately purchasing a thirty-thousand-acre large farm.)

(China Challenge current progress, tells how the protagonist conducts a wilderness challenge under strict domestic legal conditions, expected to be about 30 Chapters.)