154: Tracking the Stinky Bear

An Lan was still worried, biting her lip and clenching the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her brow furrowed into a deep frown.

"No, no, it's too dangerous. How about I go with you? It's better to have two people looking out for each other."

Lu Fan gently patted An Lan's shoulder, his gaze firm yet tender.

"You stay and watch the Shelter; the animals here need your care. Plus, if any other emergencies happen, you can guard our home. I promise I'll come back safe and sound."

Seeing An Lan's still worried expression, Lu Fan smiled. "You are my support."

Seeing Lu Fan's determined face, An Lan could only nod helplessly. "Then you must be extremely careful. If there's danger, run immediately. Don't try to be a hero!"

Before leaving, Lu Fan carefully selected his equipment like a general preparing for the battlefield.

He brought explosives—his "secret weapon" that he had developed in private; its power was not to be underestimated.

Along with that sweet honey, which was the "super bait" to attract the Brown Bear.

Da Hei seemed to sense that an exciting adventure was about to begin, jumping excitedly around Lu Fan's feet, his tail wagging like a propeller.

Lu Fan set off with Da Hei. The morning sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting patches of light on the ground.

Lu Fan carefully followed the faint traces left by the Brown Bear when it departed last night—sometimes trampled grass, sometimes massive footprints in the mud.

Da Hei ran around excitedly nearby, his nose constantly sniffing the ground, looking back at Lu Fan from time to time as if urging him to walk faster.

"Da Hei, don't run too far. Make sure to follow the scent!" Lu Fan called out softly to Da Hei while keeping an eye on his surroundings.

[Brown Bear footprints discovered, extending to the right]

They shuttled through the mountain forest for a long while. As they went deeper, the surroundings became increasingly quiet, and the occasional bird calls sounded particularly abrupt.

Suddenly, Da Hei stopped ahead, his nose pressed against the ground, a low growl escaping his throat.

Lu Fan stepped forward quickly and found a narrow path. The grass on the path was flattened, and the shrubs on both sides bore marks of being brushed against by something heavy.

"It seems this is the way. Da Hei, good job!" Lu Fan patted Da Hei's head, a hint of excitement appearing on his face.

After walking along the path for a bit longer, the terrain ahead gradually became steeper.

At a mountain hollow, Da Hei suddenly quickened his pace and rushed toward a dense thicket of shrubs.

Lu Fan followed closely behind. Rounding the shrubs, a hidden small tree hollow appeared before his eyes.

There were many messy footprints on the ground around the tree hollow, along with some gnawed branches and leaves. Clearly, this was the Brown Bear's lair.

It would have been extremely difficult to find if one weren't searching for it intentionally.

The entrance was half-hidden by layers of interlaced shrub branches and leaves. Those leaves were oily green and thick, tangling together like a natural barrier to block out prying eyes.

Lu Fan approached the tree hollow cautiously, trying not to make a single sound.

He lay flat on the ground and peered inside through the gaps in the entrance. It was pitch black inside, and he could faintly smell a strong, musky bear scent.

He calculated silently in his mind. The Brown Bear was massive and possessed immense strength; if they faced it head-on, he and Da Hei would be no match for it.

After a moment's thought, a plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He decided to lie in ambush around the tree hollow first and wait for the Brown Bear to leave.

Thus, Lu Fan found a hidden patch of grass and hid there with Da Hei, his eyes fixed intently on the tree hollow.

Time passed minute by minute. The sunlight grew stronger, feeling warm on their bodies.

Lu Fan didn't dare take his eyes off the tree hollow for a second. Sweat continuously beaded on his forehead and slid down his cheeks.

Da Hei also lay quietly beside him, occasionally twitching his ears and listening alertly to the surroundings.

After an unknown amount of time, a low growl came from deep within the tree hollow. Soon after, a massive figure slowly emerged from the hollow.

It was that very Brown Bear!

It took a long stretch, shook its fur, and then walked toward the depths of the mountain forest with heavy steps.

Once the Brown Bear's figure had completely vanished from sight, Lu Fan quickly stood up and led Da Hei to quietly approach the tree hollow.

Stepping into the cave, a strong bear musk hit him—a unique scent of animal fur, mud, and food scraps that was so pungent it almost made him gag.

The interior of the cave wasn't spacious. A thick layer of dry grass and leaves covered the ground; this was the Brown Bear's "bed." The grass had been flattened, and some of it was mixed with shed bear fur, looking quite messy.

He took out the explosives made from Bamboo Tubes that he had prepared beforehand. These explosives were filled with a lot of discarded iron slag; they would definitely tear flesh apart upon detonation.

He carefully dug small pits around the tree hollow, buried the explosives one by one, and then lightly covered them with soil, leaving only the fuses exposed.

After finishing this, he took a jar of honey from his backpack and entered the tree hollow.

A pungent smell permeated the tree hollow, and dry grass and leaves were scattered on the ground.

Lu Fan carefully poured the honey in the center of the tree hollow, and the rich, sweet aroma instantly filled the air.

After setting the trap, Lu Fan and Da Hei quickly retreated to a safe distance, found a large tree, and hid behind it to wait for the Brown Bear to take the bait.

His heart couldn't help but race, filled with both tension and excitement. He gripped the tool to light the fuse tightly, his eyes fixed on the direction of the tree hollow.

The sky grew increasingly dark, and Lu Fan's heart hung higher as night fell.

The long fuse he had specially prepared wound through the grass like a snake ready to strike, ensuring he could ignite the explosives from a safe distance.

To be safe, he also applied the herbs that An Lan had meticulously prepared earlier onto his body.

That unique herbal scent gradually spread, successfully masking his human scent.

Da Hei lay quietly beside him, staring unblinkingly at the tree hollow, occasionally moving his ears to catch the subtle movements around them.

One man and one dog lurked in the darkness like this, the tense atmosphere enveloping them like an invisible net.

Back at the Shelter, An Lan was restless.

She paced incessantly inside the house, her eyes frequently glancing toward the direction Lu Fan had left. Her hands subconsciously tugged at the hem of her clothes, which was already wrinkled from her constant pulling.

"Why hasn't he returned yet? I hope nothing has happened..." she murmured to herself, her voice filled with worry.

Outside, the chirping of insects rose and fell, sounding like an uneasy nocturnal melody.

An Lan walked to the door and looked up at the pitch-black night sky. The stars were twinkling, but they couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.

She remembered the determined look in Lu Fan's eyes when he left and silently prayed for his safe return.

Meanwhile, Lu Fan was focusing all his attention on the tree hollow.