Mid-August.
The thunderous roar of the helicopter's rotors approached from afar and then swiftly faded into the distance.
When Lin Yu'an unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped onto the land covered with thick pine needles and slippery moss, his heart was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
Beneath his feet was solid ground, around him an unfamiliar primeval forest, and above, the vast, slightly gloomy sky of British Columbia Province, Canada.
He took one last look at the helicopter disappearing over the horizon, symbolizing his final link to the civilized world and officially marking the beginning of his "Alone in the Wilderness" challenge.
The air was filled with the distinctive scent of pine, the surroundings silent, broken only by the occasional calls of birds from deep within the forest and the rustling sound of the wind brushing through the pine trees.
A sense of loneliness began to quietly envelop him.
This was the northern shore of Chilco Lake, a land of true wilderness, with towering snowy mountains faintly visible in the distance and dense forests stretching like a green ocean to the horizon.
And Lin Yu'an was just a tiny existence within this vast expanse of the world.
He did not stay immersed in emotion for long, quickly adjusting his mindset. From this moment onward, every decision he made would directly affect his survival, determining whether he could successfully win that one million US Dollars.
He took a deep breath, absorbing the scent of the earth, then began to carefully survey the area where he had been dropped.
This was a typical subalpine coniferous forest zone with slightly undulating terrain, dominated by tall Douglas firs, western hemlocks, and some smaller black pines.
The ground was covered by a thick layer of fallen leaves, soft and slippery to the touch. Not far away, he seemed to hear the faint sound of running water, which was good news, suggesting a water source might be nearby.
He adjusted the cameras given to him by the show's team, one mounted on his chest and another handheld as a backup, and began his first recording as a contestant.
"This is Lin Yu'an. I have just been dropped into the designated area, and the primary task now is to find a suitable location to build a temporary shelter and quickly locate a water source."
His voice was calm and steady, betraying no hint of panic.
Lin Yu'an retrieved the ten carefully selected pieces of equipment from his waterproof bag and displayed them in front of the camera:
A high-carbon steel multitool knife, medium-sized logging axe, -30°C rated goose down sleeping bag, extra-large heavy-duty waterproof tarp, large magnesium rod fire starter, covered single-handle stainless steel pot, fishing gear set, high-strength parachute cord, a packet of salt, and that American Hunting Bow and arrows.
Additionally, there were those items hidden deep within the storage container, which he could not show: high-energy compressed biscuits, concentrated seasonings, specially-made fishing hooks and lines, medication, several bottles of strong liquor, a large-caliber bear hunting handgun, and more.
Of course, these items were his trump cards, not to be used unless absolutely necessary, and he definitely shouldn't let the camera capture any trace of them, needing to perform at the right moment.
With a relatively lightweight equipment bag on his back, Lin Yu'an began to move in the direction of the sound of flowing water.
Navigating the primeval forest was not easy; beneath his feet were a maze of roots and slippery stones, and dense bushes frequently blocked his path, yet he moved at a not-so-slow pace.
About half an hour later, a clear, icy-cold stream appeared before him, obviously fed by the melting snow from nearby mountains.
"Found the water source!"
Lin Yu'an smiled at the camera, "The water quality looks excellent; this is a good sign."
He didn't rush to drink, instead carefully observing the stream's surroundings, looking for signs of animal activity. Finding animal tracks would boost his confidence in future food sources.
The next task was to choose a temporary campsite.
He followed the stream upstream for a distance and finally selected a slightly elevated place backed by a small steep rock face, with a relatively open area in front.
And there were several stout fallen logs that could be utilized. The spot was both wind-sheltered and offered a relatively good view, and it was close to the water source.
"This spot looks good."
Lin Yu'an said to the camera, "The rock face can provide a natural barrier, the fallen logs can be used as the support structure for the shelter, and the higher ground can avoid rainwater backflow."
Time was of the essence; building a shelter was the top priority.
He took out the logging axe from his equipment bag and began cutting suitable trees. He was clearly adept at using the axe, each swing precise and powerful.
Soon he chopped down several logs of moderate thickness to serve as the main load-bearing beams, trimming off excess branches and attending to the details.
He decided not to build the complex semi-underground shelter taught in training, because the geological conditions here did not allow for large-scale digging.
Instead, he decided to construct an improved "lean-to shelter" using the rock face as a natural wall on one side, while building a framework with felled logs on the other three sides.
He first leaned several thicker logs against the rock face to form an inclined roof frame, then secured them tightly with parachute cords.
Next, he filled in the other two walls of the framework with thinner branches and cut pine branches, aiming for an airtight construction.
The roof was covered with that extra-large heavy-duty waterproof tarp, weighted down with stones and branches to ensure it could withstand wind and rain.
Inside the shelter, he spread a thick layer of dry pine needles and fir branches for flooring, which both insulated against ground moisture and provided some warmth.
As the afterglow of the setting sun began to redden the western sky, a small and simple yet seemingly sturdy and practical shelter had taken shape.
Lin Yu'an wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the fruits of his labor, and smiled with satisfaction.
He said to the camera, "Well, I've got a home for tonight."
His voice carried a hint of exhaustion, but more so a sense of reassurance.
Making a fire was also an important task. He gathered some dry pine needles, small twigs, and some flammable birch bark from the ground.
Then he took out the magnesium rod fire starter, and with the back of the knife vigorously scraped it, sending bright sparks flying onto the kindling.
"Hiss——"
A small cluster of flames flickered to life, and Lin Yu'an carefully added small twigs, gradually stabilizing the fire.
The warm glow of the fire dispelled the chill of the mountain forest and brought a sense of security.
He used the stainless steel pot to fetch water from the stream, set it on the fire to boil, and the steaming hot water warmed him from the inside out.
He did not rush to find food; the first day's physical exertion had been enormous, and it was already getting late. Taking risks by hunting in an unfamiliar forest was too dangerous.
As night fell, Chilco Lake's wilderness revealed its raw and formidable nature.
The temperature dropped sharply, and various strange sounds came from the forest outside the camp—perhaps the wind rustling through the tree branches, or perhaps the low growl of some nocturnal creature.
Lin Yu'an stoked the fire a bit more, then climbed into his warm sleeping bag, placing the multitool knife and logging axe within easy reach just in case.
Lying in the simple shelter, listening to the howling mountain winds and the unknown animal calls outside, he felt very little fear.
Images from his past life, the responsibilities of this life, Aliya's gentle smile, and the two little lives waiting for his return flashed through his mind like scenes in a film.
He knew this was just the first night, yet he was already beginning to feel the longing.
In the coming days, he would face harsher challenges and a more profound solitude!
He closed his eyes, feeling the weak warmth from the small cross pendant on his chest, as if Aliya was right by his side. Enveloped by the warmth of the fire and his exhaustion, he drifted off to sleep.
What Lin Yu'an didn't know was that not far from his shelter, hidden in the dense forest,
a pair of eyes glowing with an eerie green light were silently watching the flickering firelight of his camp, then silently disappeared into the darkness…