From Robinson Crusoe

The smoke rising from the cave entrance gradually thinned out.

The sun rose slowly, hanging listlessly in the sky.

Although there were few dark clouds on this cold day, everything still felt gray and desolate.

The fire in the stove inside the cave was blazing, and steam was billowing from the open cooking pot.

"Careful, don't get burned!"

Paul used animal hide to cushion his hands as he took the stewed food off the stove, and then covered the stove with a lid made of clay.

The dining table for three was made of three thick logs joined together, and each person had their own wooden bowl, chopsticks, and stool.

Chen Zhou had already finished dealing with the last few spears for Bi Kai and had set the table with bowls and chopsticks, waiting for the meal to begin.

The three saw-toothed tigers couldn't stand the rapidly rising temperature inside the house after cooking over a fire, so they all ran to the cave entrance and lay down.

Don't be fooled by how often they eat roasted meat when they're young; once they grow up, these guys lose interest in cooked food and only meat that's still bloody can pique their interest.

Moreover, Paul always adds seasonings when stewing meat, one of which, a spicy seasoning to remove the fishy smell, is disliked by the sawtooth tiger.

They used to be able to eat a few pieces occasionally, but ever since this seasoning was added, they won't even look at it.

……

Time was of the essence, so the three of them finished their meal as quickly as possible, then put on their animal skin clothes, slung their weapons over their backs, and left the cave.

Unlike at the foot of the mountain, even without snowfall, the paths already trodden out on the mountain will be covered by snow.

The mountain winds, blowing day and night, are the most diligent transporters, bringing down the snow from higher places and giving the snow layers the appearance of being eroded by flowing water.

Walking in such an environment is quite a test of memory.

To someone unfamiliar with the terrain, all paths may appear flat and even, but they might not realize that some of the snow-covered areas are not flat and could contain deep gullies.

The serrated tiger has broad, thick paws and walks on all fours. Since they are all still young, the ordinary snow layer is enough to support their weight and prevent them from sinking into the snow.

Paul and Bi Kai were both within the normal weight range, so even if they walked on both feet, the pressure would not cause them to sink too deep.

Winter has been here for a while now, and in many places the snow is frozen hard enough to be difficult to break underfoot.

Chen Zhou was the only one in trouble. With his weight, it was difficult for him not to break the hard, thin ice on the top layer of snow. Moreover, the mountain was big enough that even if he had a good memory, he couldn't remember all the paths. Besides, he was setting foot in many places for the first time.

So he could only lead the way at the front of the group, probing the depth of the snow with his spear as he walked forward.

Fortunately, there were only a few places with particularly deep snow. In particular, their cave entrances faced the sun and were located on sunny slopes, where the snow melted quickly. The speed only slowed down as they walked down into the forest.

Actually, if it weren't for the complex forest terrain, Chen Zhou probably would have already figured out how to make a few skis, which would have greatly increased their speed down the mountain.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long after leaving the cave that we entered the forest. The forest was full of trees, making it difficult to maneuver the skis. We were also likely to crash into trees or low bushes and get injured.

Moreover, some trees have broken branches growing from their roots. Once frozen solid, these branches are like sharp blades. If someone is caught off guard and gets stabbed, the worst outcome is a penetrating wound, which is extremely detrimental to their survival.

Although the three of them are working together now, each with their own tasks, they are doing quite well.

If one of them gets injured, it's not just a matter of 3-1=2. Someone has to be responsible for taking care of the injured person, and the other two people will have to take on more work. All things considered, it's better to avoid the risks as much as possible.

There is no shortage of manpower nowadays. Apart from food, especially meat and oil, there is no shortage of carbohydrates or salt. Chen Zhou believes there is no need to rush.

……

The soft, fine snow floated on top of the solid snow cover, making a crunching sound when you stepped on it.

Amidst the rhythmic footsteps, three people, completely wrapped in brown-gray animal hides, were clearing a path and heading straight for the foot of the mountain.

They all wore large animal skin hats, making it impossible to discern their faces from a distance. The only noticeable difference was that the person at the very back was the tallest, while the person at the very front had the most steady gait.

To the side of the three, three saw-toothed tigers excitedly ran and jumped, releasing their energy.

This attire, combined with the wooden spears strapped diagonally to the backs of the three men, gave them a sense of the grim and menacing atmosphere of a primitive group hunting together.

……

According to the plan, Bi Kai made a total of fifteen spears for hunting, with each person carrying an average of five spears, while Chen Zhou had to carry two more spears.

The hand axe was hanging at Paul's waist.

Bi Kai was assigned a military knife and an Indian scimitar. Due to the scimitar's unique shape, it was not suitable for use. He chose to use the military knife with its straight spine as his main weapon and specially lengthened the handle of the knife. It was still reasonably easy to hold in his hand.

Previously, when Bi Kai and Chen Zhou met briefly, Bi Kai borrowed Chen Zhou's knife to practice his swordsmanship. He only felt that the knife was unusually heavy, but did not examine its material in detail.

Now that he was in the same room with Chen Zhou and Paul, and had the opportunity to borrow their weapons to examine and use them closely, Bi Kai discovered the exquisite craftsmanship of modern materials and forging techniques.

Whether it was Paul's saber, Chen Zhou's kunai, shuriken, or that long sword, in Bi Kai's era, they would all be renowned weapons that could cause a bloodbath and chaos.

In particular, the long sword that Chen Zhou took from the man in black robes could be called the "number one sword in the martial arts world". Its folding forging process and acid etching process revealed dense and delicate patterns, which made Bi Kai think that the sword was forged from meteorite iron from outer space.

Bi Kai is not a frog in a well; he is always willing to ask for advice when he doesn't understand something.

Paul couldn't understand him because of the language barrier, and even if he was willing to communicate, he couldn't explain the forging process clearly in a short time.

Therefore, Bi Kai could only obtain much knowledge from Chen Zhou.

After spending a long time together, and because they share the same language, his Mandarin has become quite standard. Except for some nouns that Chen Zhou needs to explain to him, he can understand most concepts.

Regarding materials science and forging, Chen Zhou has both the theoretical knowledge he learned in school and the practical experience he accumulated by forging on his own on the isolated island. His explanations are quite detailed and easy to understand.

With this "teacher," Bi Kai finally understood why metal is hard, strong, and does not corrode.

How can a fine sword cut through a hair with a single blow, and slice through iron like mud?

Which martial artist doesn't want to possess a divine weapon? The only problem is that they can't find a master craftsman to make it, let alone suitable materials.

Bi Kai used to think that only meteorite iron from outer space was a superior material. Little did he know that the best forging materials were actually everywhere. And the so-called divine weapons could be mass-produced nearly a thousand years later, and even became kitchen utensils in ordinary people's homes.

Of course, Chen Zhou didn't forget to tell Bi Kai that in later generations, no matter how sharp cold weapons were, they would no longer be considered useful.

Firearms and even nuclear weapons are the real "martial arts manuals," their power no different from the demons and monsters in ancient books, with the might to annihilate a million soldiers in an instant.

Upon hearing this, Bi Kai's interest shifted to history.

Although his world differs somewhat from that of China, its general direction remains unchanged.

When Chen Zhou inquired, Bi Kai only sighed and complained about the injustice of the world, the corruption of the court, and the suffering of the people.

Heavy snow caused Taihu Lake and Poyang Lake to freeze over, and a severe drought in Shaanxi and Gansu resulted in a complete crop failure. In addition, the imperial court imposed three additional taxes, and the people resorted to cannibalism after eating all the tree bark.

Even the capital was plagued by an epidemic, causing Ming soldiers to stand stiffly by the roadside in their uniforms and weapons. Furthermore, the rebel leader Li Zicheng launched a rebellion, creating a scene reminiscent of the end times.

When the common people suffer, how can the martial arts world remain unaffected?

Before taking on the challenge, Bi Kaiyuan had some connections with the Donglin Party.

After Wei Zhongxian seized control of the court, the Donglin Party was brutally purged, and he was also put on the wanted list by the court. He had no choice but to flee to the northwest region, where he only wanted to devote himself to swordsmanship and spend the rest of his life in the mountains. Little did he expect to encounter such bizarre and wonderful things.

Bi Kai was not a scholar. Although he had witnessed too many powerful people oppressing the common people while traveling the world, and had also acted as a chivalrous knight-errant, punishing evil and promoting good, he knew that he was not cut out to be an official, and could not survive in the treacherous officialdom.

It is said that when poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven. There are some things that Bi Kai sees, but he is powerless to do anything about it. Although he wanted to save the common people, he had long since given up on it.

In his view, the situation in the world would always change. Whether it was Li Zicheng, the rebel leader, or any other king, as long as they succeeded in their uprising and overthrew the imperial court, the people would be able to live in peace.

As for natural disasters, they were caused by the emperor's incompetence. In the future, when a wise ruler comes to power, the weather will be favorable, the country will be prosperous and the people will live in peace.

During the communication, Chen Zhou could clearly sense Bi Kai's negative emotions, so he often comforted him and told him some historical stories from later generations.

When Bi Kai heard about the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the rise of the Qing Dynasty, and the subsequent period from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China, he was so angry that his eyes turned red.

Upon hearing about the atrocities and massacres committed by the Japanese invaders on Chinese soil, Bi Kai flew into a rage and even got up to split the bed open with a knife.

His emotions only calmed down when Chen Zhou talked about modern history, the founding of China, and the various events after entering the modern era.

Although they live in different worlds and even different timelines, they are still similar people. Chen Zhou hopes that Bi Kai can do something positive and seek change after returning to his world.

It is often said that under the wheels of history, the power of an individual is extremely insignificant, and once the trend has been set, no one can reverse the situation.

But who can say for sure about something that transcends the barriers of time and space?

Even if Bi Kai's actions had prevented tens of thousands of deaths or the looting of a city in later generations, it would have been a tremendous change, saving countless families.

Of course, a change in mindset cannot be achieved overnight.

Chen Zhou only hoped that after Bi Kai completed the challenge and left, his thinking would be more advanced, at least closer to modern thought.

If he could use his "prophetic" advantage to change the situation of the Ming Dynasty's decline, or even don the yellow robe and ascend the throne to replace the Qing Dynasty and establish a different empire, Chen Zhou could be considered the "Imperial Tutor" of another world, and would be revered and even worshipped by countless people in the dark.

……

Knowing that he would never meet anyone who could truly foresee the future after leaving this world, he would always ask Chen Zhou questions whenever he had free time.

Now heading towards the bear cave, following behind Chen Zhou, he would occasionally ask a question.

Paul has been listening to Chinese for several months. Although he can't speak it well now, he can understand it without any problem. He can also chime in when something interests him.

The white breath dissipated one after another, and accompanied by their conversation, the three quickly arrived at the bear cave.

……

After winter sets in, hibernating animals retreat into their burrows and almost never venture out again.

Non-hibernating predators rarely target them unless they can find absolutely no food.

In most cases, as long as they have enough fat stored up, they can sleep soundly until the following spring when the flowers bloom, and then start a new journey with a slimmer figure.

The cave at the foot of the mountain is a typical undisturbed bear den.

The open cave entrance was blown in by the wind, letting in a layer of snow. Some food scraps were scattered inside, and a faint smell of pine resin and a faint odor permeated the air.

Apart from the sound of the wind, there was no other noise here, not even a mouse had ever visited.

However, today, the peace here has been shattered.

……

Is the bear on the left or the right?

After wading through the snow for nearly an hour and a half, they finally arrived at their destination. Chen Zhou weighed the spear in his hand and asked Bi Kai for his opinion.

"Go into this hole on the right, and you'll arrive in about three zhang."

Hearing the reply, he nodded, kicked aside the protruding snow ridges at the edge of the hole, and strode inside.

Without the slightest delay, Chen Zhou headed straight for Xiong Dongmian's location.

As you venture deeper into the cave, the light dims suddenly, and many small, withered branches appear on the solid stone floor.

After brushing the snow off the soles of his boots, Chen Zhou soon spotted a huge, brownish-red, coiled-up object.

The three men's boots made a crisp sound as they stepped inside the cave, startling the hibernating bear.

It twisted its body, moved its paws and back, and slowly rose from the cave like a small mountain.

Bears also have "morning grumpiness." This big guy hates it when any creature disturbs his sleep. Whether it's a cave hyena, a cave lion, or anything else, if it dares to step into its territory, it will be torn to pieces.

However, before it could announce who was the master of this place with a howl that would terrify its prey, Chen Zhou threw the spear in his hand.

The carefully selected hardwood was dense and heavy enough that, with Chen Zhou's terrifying strength, it was thrown out, passing through the bear's back and completely piercing its body, before emerging from the other side.

Hey!
The cave bear howled in pain.

Chen Zhou turned to the side, and Bi Kai, who was behind him, immediately threw a second spear.

Although Bi Kai's strength was far inferior to Chen Zhou's, the spear was still enough to pierce the cave bear's fur and penetrate its body.

After Bi Kai threw his spear, Paul immediately followed up with a third spear.

After a round of throwing, the cave bear had three more "long spikes" on its body. The pain made it angrily swing its paws, stand up on its hind legs, open its mouth to reveal its canine teeth, and attempt to launch an attack.

But that short distance of just over ten meters felt longer than its life at that moment.

The fourth, the fifth, the sixth...

Chen Zhou and the other two became increasingly adept at switching positions.

As spears flew out one after another, the enormous cave bear seemed to transform into a different species, becoming a porcupine or a hedgehog, its body covered in "thorns".

Seeing its roar growing weaker, the three-headed saw-toothed tigers, attracted by the smell of blood, began to stir. They passed Chen Zhou and his companions, tentatively moved forward, and circled around the cave bear, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

However, the little guys were somewhat slow to act; the cave bears had already lost their ability to resist before they could even bite.

Before long, Chen Zhou slit its neck with a single stroke, ending the giant beast's life.

Immediately afterwards, all three of them pulled out knives and began to dismantle the cave bear on the spot.

The bear skin, riddled with holes, was the first to be peeled off, cut into smaller, more intact pieces, and taken to an open area.

Next came the cave bear's thick subcutaneous fat, which was a key objective of the three's trip. After being cut up, it was moved to the cave entrance, where it was cold enough to quickly freeze the fat, making it easy to carry.

Finally, there are the cave bear's internal organs and limbs.

Chen Zhou gave the less meaty and finer bones to the sawtooth tiger on the spot, while the nutritious internal organs such as the bear heart and liver were wrapped in fur and kept to be taken back to the "safe" on the mountain.

Chen Zhou could hunt hibernating cave bears on his own, but dissection was a delicate task that required three people to work together for maximum efficiency.

Today, the three of them put aside their work and went out together, not just to deal with this cave bear.

Bi Kai has been gathering information recently. In addition to this cave bear, they have three other "natural fat" animals under their sights, including one that is suspected to be a giant ground sloth, which is a rather troublesome target.

Fifteen spears, so that we can wipe them all out today.

After the on-site dissection and processing are completed, the deer herd can then carry the meat, fat, and fur back to the cave all at once. (End of Chapter)