Wilderness Survival with Druid System-Chapter 407 - 76: Searching for the Dugout Canoe

The busy afternoon came to an end.

A new shelter rose in Chen Wen’s camp.

This shelter was the result of Feng Zhong’s busy afternoon.

Just back, Chen Wen saw the rudimentary shelter and could barely hold it together.

This is way too simple!

He simply found a tree and used two pieces of wood to make a triangular frame on it.

Then he laid a layer of twigs on the frame, and some leaves on the twigs.

And that’s it.

"Are you sure this won’t get blown over by the wind?"

Chen Wen looked at Feng Zhong and asked.

Feng Zhong was nonchalant: "There won’t be any wind these days. If we get through today and wait for tomorrow to bring the dugout canoe back, I plan to fix it up and live in it. Besides, according to our plan, it’s just a few days before we eliminate them, since we’ve survived past the halfway mark, wouldn’t you say?"

"Indeed."

Chen Wen nodded.

After a few casual exchanges, they started arranging dinner.

Dinner was the leftover crocodile meat Chen Wen had, not too fresh, but Feng Zhong enjoyed it.

"Delicious!"

Feng Zhong couldn’t help but say: "Really delicious, I didn’t expect that, Chen Wen, you’re this good at cooking!"

"Not at all, just learned a thing or two from friends."

Chen Wen modestly replied.

After eating, one slept above, and the other below.

The alliance between Chen Wen and Feng Zhong officially began their survival cooperation.

...

As time went into the night.

After hearing Feng Zhong’s snores from below, Chen Wen silently jumped down from the tree and headed towards the riverbank.

It has to be said that Chen Wen’s stealth skills are quite strong.

With a set of related attributes, he moved ghost-like, effortlessly through the forest.

If not for the occasional rustling of clothes giving him away, many would actually mistake him for a specter at night.

Quickly, he arrived at the riverside.

The hippo was eating.

Chen Wen patted the hippo’s body and said, "Give me a lift over."

Though the Kuanduo River at night is not as dangerous as during the day, one can’t rule out the possibility of encountering some nocturnal dangerous creatures.

For example, snakes—there are plenty of venomous ones here.

So, Chen Wen still had the hippo carry him across.

Arriving on the other side of the river, Chen Wen let the hippo graze there.

He then walked lightly to meet the leopard brothers in the forest.

As soon as he reached the edge of the forest, Leopard the Second joyfully came out.

"Hey, my brother and I have been waiting for you!"

Leopard the Second’s tone sounded like a fresh college student, very cheerful.

Chen Wen nodded: "I’ve come to see you and to chat about some things with you."

Hearing this, Leopard the Second immediately nodded and invited Chen Wen into the forest. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a low purring sound, Leopard the First also came out.

It looked at Chen Wen, appearing relaxed.

Compared to the special Leopard the Second, the First was less human-like and wise, more wild and fierce.

Chen Wen reached out, gently scratching the leopard’s chin.

The leopard, facing this never-before-experienced caress, was momentarily stunned.

Most felines have many sensitive nerve endings in their chins.

A gentle scratch can make them feel very comfortable.

Leopards, being distant relatives of cats, are naturally no exception.

As the nerve endings were stimulated, the leopard very comfortably lay on its side on the ground.

Seeing this, Leopard the Second also curiously leaned its head closer.

A moment later,

It adopted the same posture as Leopard the First.

"Actually, the reason I came to see you isn’t anything much, just wanted to ask about your injuries."

Chen Wen expressed concern directly, aiming to build a closer relationship.

Leopard the Second showed its wound and said, "It hurts a lot, but I can feel it’s getting better."

It’s good if it can heal.

Chen Wen relied on his night vision to carefully inspect.

Among all the wounds, the two stab wounds were the most serious.

But under the accelerated healing of the Animal Doctor, these two wounds were already no big deal.

"Take a good rest these days."

Based on his experience, Chen Wen made a recovery plan for Leopard the Second: "I’ll bring you some meat."

"No need, no need."

Leopard the Second was quite honest: "My brother hunts, I can eat his prey."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen looked at the two brothers with great curiosity.

Logically, even blood-related leopard brothers would separate and gradually grow distant upon reaching adulthood.

But this pair of brothers was different.

Their relationship seemed very harmonious, unlike most leopards.

Though leopards do have rich emotions.

Chen Wen remembered a story he’d once read about a leopard and a hyena.

Simply put, it was about a leopard and an ostracized hyena forming a very peculiar pair of foes.

There was conflict, cooperation, intrigue, and warmth.

It left a deep impression on Chen Wen.

"Alright then, if you need anything, feel free to come find me, or even the hippo."

Chen Wen said and then asked with concern: "How are you getting along with the hippo?"

"Umm..."

The leopard doesn’t lie: "Not well, I’m quite afraid of it; it always feels like it might suddenly charge at me."

Well, getting these two to get along is going to be quite a task!

However, Chen Wen believed that as the leopard brothers and the hippo continued to interact, and even collaborate in hunting,

they’d certainly become good friends, much like the Canada lynx and the Golden Eagle.

...

Returning under the cover of night.

Chen Wen rode on the hippo-transformed dugout canoe back to the other side of the river.

After simply explaining the leopard brothers’ situation to the hippo, he returned to the camp to rest.

Later, he’d have to think about how to clear the leopards’ reputation and properly introduce them.

Before sleep, Chen Wen thought so.

Come the next day.

As soon as they got up in the morning, Chen Wen and Feng Zhong began preparing to retrieve the dugout canoe.

He and Feng Zhong walked along the shore, with the hippo following in the water.

Feng Zhong, walking while watching the hippo bobbing up and down beside them,

couldn’t help but ask Chen Wen: "How did you do it? Tame a hippo?"

Chen Wen chuckled without going into detail: "Just like that, spot the target—attempt to tame—successfully tame."

"Goodness, are you capturing Pokémon?"

Feng Zhong said with a laugh, not probing further.

However, the wariness in Feng Zhong’s heart towards Chen Wen grew stronger.

The two continued along the Kuanduo River.

This time, with the hippo there, leading them, the two marched unscrupulously without any animals daring to obstruct them.

Ultimately, they arrived an hour early.

"All things considered."

Feng Zhong looked at the hippo with great envy: "As long as you have this hippo, hiking along the Kuanduo River feels no different from strolling in Riverside Park, right?"

"There is a difference."

Chen Wen looked at the hippo and said: "At least there’re no senior power-walking groups blocking the way."

"Well said, right on."

Feng Zhong laughed heartily.

Under Feng Zhong’s guidance, Chen Wen finally saw the dugout canoe he mentioned.

"This is it."

Feng Zhong approached the dugout canoe and flipped it over.

Yet, Chen Wen looked at the dugout canoe with a bit of a frown.