King of the Wilderness

As all the equipment was packed perfectly into that huge expedition backpack, a sense of departure began to quietly permeate the air of the Wood Forest Land.

Only one week remained until the official departure.

Before leaving, Lin Yu’an had to ensure that everything at home was arranged properly.

That evening, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly.

Lin Yu’an, Aliya, and Emily, who had started staying over in the guest room, were seated around the long dining table.

”Emily.” Lin Yu’an put down the knife and fork in his hand and looked at her.

He spoke in a solemn yet natural tone, ”I will probably need to leave for about two months. During this time, I’ll have to rely on you and Aliya to take care of the house.”

”Don’t worry.” Emily nodded, and an unprecedented firmness shone in her blue eyes.

After arranging everything at home, Lin Yu’an began his farewell journey over the next few days.

He drove that modified, powerfully-built F-150, visiting each of the neighbors who had once helped him.

His first stop was Old George’s house.

”What? You’re going on that damn show again? And in Labrador?” Old George widened his eyes after hearing Lin Yu’an’s intentions.

”You’re crazy, kid! The winters there are much harsher than here! The wind can chill you to the bone!”

Although he was complaining, he turned and walked into his workshop.

A moment later, he came out holding a long object carefully wrapped in thick, oil-tanned leather, and placed it with a thud on the table.

He untied the leather clasp and slowly unfolded the sheath.

Resting silently on the dark deer hide was a handmade hunting knife, its cold gleam contrasting with the warm wood texture.

The size of this knife was similar to the Ace No. 6 that Lin Yu’an had purchased, but both its design and craftsmanship were far superior.

The blade had a beautiful Bowie shape, with a thick spine suitable for chopping, while the edge was ground to an extreme sharpness.

Most striking, under the light, one could vaguely see a layer of flowing patterns on the blade, like water ripples.

”This is…” A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Yu’an’s eyes.

”Damascus pattern steel,” Old George said, his tone filled with pride in his creation.

”It’s something I hammered out last winter when I had nothing to do, folding over three hundred layers of 1095 high-carbon steel and 15N20 nickel steel. Its hardness and toughness are far better than the factory ones you buy.”

His fingers slid to the handle: ”The handle is made from a combination of elk antler and stabilized birch burl, making it extremely comfortable to grip. I’ve treated it several times with walnut oil.”

”Take it, kid.” Old George pushed the knife, which could be considered a work of art, along with its handcrafted sheath, towards Lin Yu’an, leaving no room for refusal.

”I know you have good tools, but they lack a soul! We old guys believe that things made by our own hands can bring good luck.”

”When you get to Labrador, whether it’s for handling the fish you catch or processing the rabbits you trap, it will be your most reliable partner!”

”Remember to come back safely. When you return, I’ll teach you how to forge knives!”

Looking at this hunting knife imbued with Old George’s efforts and blessings, Lin Yu’an felt a surge of immense gratitude. It reminded him of his teacher and the teacher’s wife... He did not decline but accepted it solemnly.

”Thank you, George. I will care for it as I do for my own life. I’ll come back to learn knife forging with you.”

After leaving Old George’s house, Lin Yu’an’s second stop was Stan’s cabin.

Stan’s place was more primitive and rugged than Old George’s, with no neat lawn in the yard, only a few large wooden racks for tanning hides, and rows of drying traps.

Stan remained as silent as ever, sitting on the porch, using a small pair of needle-nose pliers and a thin steel wire to repair a mink trap damaged during hunting season.

Seeing Lin Yu’an approach with gifts, he merely lifted his eyelids, gesturing for him to sit on the wooden stump opposite.

Lin Yu’an placed a bottle of liquor and a pack of cigarettes at his feet, then briefly explained his plan to venture into Labrador.

Stan listened quietly, without stopping his work.

Only after Lin Yu’an finished speaking did he set down the mink trap and walk into the dim cabin.

A few minutes later, he came out holding an extremely fine-textured blue-black natural whetstone.

The shape of this whetstone was irregular, retaining its natural contours, but its top and bottom surfaces had been smoothed like mirrors through years of use and maintenance.

Stan’s speech was as concise as ever: ”I know that show, the crew’s whetstones are too small. In the wilderness, your knife and axe are your life!”

”This is a hard Arkansas stone I found in a dry riverbed deep within the Brooks Range.”

”Its grit, I estimate is above 2000 grit; it’s an excellent natural whetstone.”

He pushed the whetstone towards Lin Yu’an, continuing, ”Take it, to keep your tools always in the most reliable condition.”

”Thank you, Stan.” He accepted the gift earnestly.

Stan looked at him and finally nodded, with complete recognition in his eyes: ”Go with peace of mind, kid. Just make sure you protect yourself and don’t die in that icy hole.”