Chapter 1042 - 61: Squirrels

The dangers mentioned by Oleg are not actually threats from dangerous individuals, but from other contestants.

Though the Forest Extreme Challenge doesn’t promote conflicts among contestants as the Ridge Challenge does,

the Forest Extreme Challenge does not prohibit conflict!

That means if you happen upon other contestants and wish to acquire their prize money and material resources, you are free to engage!

If Chen Wen and his group continue in this direction, in about three days they will reach the territory of another team!

Imagine, suddenly two individuals with game and a substantial amount of prize money invade your territory.

Wouldn’t anyone feel tempted to act?

Of course, that’s assuming it’s not against Chen Wen.

Facing Chen Wen’s spear, not many would dare to take action.

But Oleg remains quite eager.

Because the team ahead of Chen Wen’s is one of the few willing to challenge him!

...

As for Chen Wen.

They have already reached the vicinity of the pine tree inhabited by squirrels.

The squirrels seem to be frolicking, or maybe they’re engaged in a territorial dispute; regardless, they’re quite busy at the moment.

Moreover, they haven’t noticed the presence of two unfamiliar animals around their territory.

Chen Wen gestured to Hua Yun, signaling her to take action.

Hua Yun nodded slightly, slowly wedging three arrows between her fingers.

This was her specialty—triple shot!

Firing off three arrows in quick succession demands tremendous arm strength, agility, and shooting accuracy!

Generally, for an archer to master this skill, extensive practice is required.

Yet Hua Yun grasped this skill swiftly, and her proficiency is exceptionally high.

With the arrows in hand, Hua Yun raised an eyebrow and swiftly marked her target.

It was a very plump squirrel, perched on a branch, showing no intent to hide, appearing quite brazen.

Simultaneously, Hua Yun selected her second and third targets along with a backup.

About tens of seconds later, she took a deep breath, drew the bow, and prepared the first arrow.

She raised the bow, aimed, and shot!

With rapid movements, Hua Yun fired the first arrow virtually instantaneously.

Then, under Chen Wen’s watchful eyes, Hua Yun neither paused for breath nor made any unnecessary moves.

She promptly set the second arrow onto the bowstring and fired again!

When the second arrow was launched, the first had just struck Hua Yun’s initial target.

Whether it hit or not, Hua Yun didn’t care.

She focused and drew back the bowstring once more, releasing the third arrow!

After firing three arrows in succession, Hua Yun leisurely lowered the bow and exhaled slowly.

"Two out of three, not bad."

Chen Wen remarked on Hua Yun’s score from the side.

After the first arrow hit the plump squirrel, the other squirrels quickly sensed something amiss.

They fled promptly, with impressive speed of reaction.

Therefore, Hua Yun missed with the second arrow she had purposefully aimed as the target did not move in the predicted direction.

This was also within Hua Yun’s expectations.

While the third arrow accurately predicted a squirrel’s escape path.

Striking it successfully.

"Not bad."

Hua Yun said calmly, though she was slightly dissatisfied.

Chen Wen chuckled and said, "Your hunt is over, mine is just beginning. You go retrieve the prey and find the arrow that flew off, while I ransack the squirrels’ nest!"

During the squirrels’ escape, Chen Wen was tracking their routes and successfully pinpointed their lair.

A vast amount of food is stored in their nest!

Chen Wen approached the tree, glancing at the struck red squirrel.

He quickly identified their species: "Eurasian Red Squirrel!"

Eurasian Red Squirrels are the most common squirrel species across the Eurasian continent.

Their range stretches from the north of Eurasia to Central Plains, all the way to near the Arctic Circle. Wherever there are flourishing forests, you may find them.

Additionally, these squirrels possess remarkable spatial memory, enabling them to recall their food caches.

Hence, they are among the most inclined to store food among squirrel species.

"We’re quite lucky."

Chen Wen expressed with a glimmer of joy in his eyes.

Hua Yun was not familiar with squirrel species, but as she lifted the deceased Eurasian Red Squirrel, a similar gleam of joy crossed her eyes: "It’s heavy! This one is quite plump!"

Chen Wen nodded while carefully observing his surroundings.

He quickly instructed, "Hurry and place the prey on the sled, and find your arrow. Once found, come help me. These Eurasian Red Squirrels are very fond of storing food."

"They stash pine nuts in the soil, hang mushrooms on trees to dry, and most importantly, they hide nuts and similar foods in tree holes. This area can be considered a treasure trove of these red squirrels; we’ve hit the jackpot this time!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Yun couldn’t help but gasp.

If Chen Wen’s prediction holds true, and these red squirrels love storing food,

this region is indeed a gold mine!

Consequently, Hua Yun began her work immediately.

Meanwhile, Chen Wen started utilizing his keen eyesight to scrutinize the surroundings. Before long, he spotted the most easily identifiable food—dried mushrooms.

At the top of the tree in front of Chen Wen, among the green pine needles, he could easily see some yellowish-white items. They were the dried mushrooms stored by the red squirrels at the treetop.

The red squirrels have mastered a remarkable skill of hiding things.

They dry mushrooms high among the branches at the top of pine trees. Despite their large size, the clever red squirrels manage to carry them, climbing up to what they consider a safe treetop to hang them, impervious to wind and snow.

This is their unique survival skill.

However, finding the pine nuts buried underground proved quite challenging.

Chen Wen circled a few times but ultimately failed to locate them, opting to abandon the search for pine nuts.

Luckily, pine nuts don’t require theft from squirrels, as Chen Wen can find plenty by searching around the pines himself.

Even though red squirrels are adept at hiding pine nuts, sometimes they themselves can’t retrieve them.

Buried underground, these pine nuts accumulate nutrients and sprout in the following spring, becoming part of the forest.

This is considered the unique ecological function of red squirrels.

While pondering, Hua Yun arrived quickly.

Chen Wen signaled Hua Yun to wait under the tree, and then he wrapped his arms around the trunk and climbed swiftly toward the treetop.

His speed was so rapid that it might even shame some less agile monkeys.

"Chen Wen, this guy... after a few days without seeing him, his climbing ability has improved noticeably!"

Watching from below, Hua Yun was somewhat surprised.

Soon, Chen Wen reached the higher branches of the pine.

He refrained from further ascending as the treetop couldn’t bear his weight.

Chen Wen extended his spear, using it as an extension of his arm, to reach the dried mushrooms hanging at the treetop.

With precise movements, he tapped the branches holding the mushrooms, and in a matter of moments, the mushrooms defying wind and snow started falling under Chen Wen’s formidable strikes.

However, Chen Wen did not clear everything—the red squirrels were left with half of the dried mushrooms.