This method may sound complicated, but it's actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.

If it weren't to verify the accuracy of the measured direction, I could even skip the step of using a compass needle and determine the surrounding directions (north, south, east, west) simply by the position of the shadow.

As I said before, everything should be done with the safety in mind. Being a little cautious is always better, as it increases the margin for error.

Getting lost in the wilderness can be very tiring. Even though I could hunt for food, I still didn't want to waste my time.

Before coming here, I didn't expect to encounter such a terrible situation. It seems that you can't be lazy when it comes to things like a compass. I'll wait until I find suitable materials to make one myself, which will be more convenient to use.

Before I came out, I used this method to calculate that my rock crevice dwelling was located in the southwest of the eastern area. To be precise, the east of me was in the northeast of the east-northeast.

Because when we came, we didn't go directly east, but first went several miles along the north side of the stream before we cut in diagonally.

I had been following the northeast direction of the stream the whole way, and even when there was no stream along the way, I determined the direction and kept going in that direction.

Until I turned left into the valley in the hilly area and came to the back of the mountain, my orientation should be towards the northwest.

But when I encountered the mudslide, my instinct was to run towards the dense woods, and after a lot of things were turned upside down, I lost my way.

What I want to see now is the great river in that deep valley; its location hasn't changed and it's still in the northwest.

Next, I just need to follow the northwest direction, and I'm sure I'll find the location of that grand canyon.

There's a reason I'm so eager to find that Grand Canyon.

As I mentioned before, there is a high possibility that humans exist here. The reactions of the Short-faced Bear and the Sand Beast to fire and spears are the best examples.

This matter has always been a thorn in my side, a source of constant worry. The emergence of humans is not necessarily a good thing; it often means facing even greater threats.

After all, humans are more intelligent than wild animals and know how to use tools to make traps.

If the indigenous people here are just like some nomadic tribes in the Congo region of Africa, that's fine. But if I encounter cannibals like some island tribes in the Americas, my situation will become very bad.

Cannibalistic tribes are generally quite barbaric. They are extremely xenophobic and will fight to the death to kill any foreign invaders before cooking them.

The most famous of these is North Sentinel Island, an island in the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

In the 1830s, British missionaries John Williams and James Harris came to the island to preach, but were regarded as invaders by the local cannibal tribe.

They were violently attacked by local indigenous people, and both died on the island. Their bodies were cooked and eaten by the locals.

The tribe's inhabitants are extremely xenophobic, refusing to have contact with the outside world and holding a hostile attitude towards all outsiders.

Historically, there have been incidents of merchant ship crews, television crews, and others being attacked when they approached or attempted to land on the island.

In light of these circumstances, the Indian government announced in 1996 a ban on anyone setting foot in the waters near North Sentinel Island.

On the one hand, it was to protect the lives of those who wanted to land on the island, and on the other hand, it was to prevent outsiders from bringing germs from modern society to the original inhabitants, because their immune systems, which had been isolated for a long time, could not resist these viruses.

I don't know if these people have a cannibalistic habit, but I'm sure they know how to use fire to make some simple tools and weapons, which can be seen from the wild beasts.

Although my weapons are more sophisticated and powerful than theirs, I only have Top and Pat, who recently joined. This is an absolute disadvantage that cannot be overcome.

If these natives are really as stubborn as the inhabitants of North Sentinel Island and insist on attacking me en masse, how many people can I kill at once with my shotgun and pneumatic handgun?

Moreover, they are very likely not to confront me directly, but to use the same methods I use—poisoned arrows, traps, and pitfalls—to deal with me from the shadows, which would make things even more troublesome.

I had to be on high alert, watching their every move. If they made even the slightest move, I would have to flee like a rabbit.

I'm just being cautious, not stupid. Since arriving in this area, I haven't found any trace of human habitation; everything is based on my speculation.

This is a good thing for me, at least I haven't met any of the natives yet. They don't know that an outsider like me has intruded into this land.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The most advantageous thing for me now is to take advantage of this information gap and find out the other party's strengths and weaknesses first.

Regardless of whether the other tribe is warlike or friendly, I will have ample time to prepare a response plan.

This is directly related to my life safety. As for food and some natural resources, I can find them slowly, but I only have one chance to live.

When I saw that deep canyon, I had already decided to go and see it.

Why was I so sure there was a large river there? Because the terrain I had been traveling through was all hilly. It wasn't until I passed through the valleys of the hilly area that I discovered this canyon section with a huge drop.

I'm certain there must be a large river flowing through the canyon below, fed by the surrounding waterways. And the birthplaces of ancient civilizations are generally located near such water-rich river basins.

Just like the birthplace of our civilization is mainly located in the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins.

Abundant water brings more resources and sustains more people; this is an unchanging law in the origins of culture.

Having determined our next direction, Top and I ate some jerky. I decided to call out in the neighborhood to see if I could find Pat.

Of course, if I were to shout with my own voice, even if I shouted myself hoarse, Pat might not be able to hear me in these mountains.

I took this into account when I was training it, so I made a very loud rescue whistle using a small piece of iron and wood.

This whistle was originally designed to send out rescue signals, so it is very loud and can be carried for several kilometers in the open mountains.

Every time I blow this rescue whistle, Top painfully covers his ears. Not to mention Top with his excellent hearing, even I feel my eardrums throbbing painfully when I hear the whistle up close.

It was morning, the time when Pat liked to patrol and hunt from high above, and the whistle was more likely to be noticed by him at this time.

I said to Top, who was standing next to me, “Top, cover your ears. I’m going to call Pat back now.”