Lin Feng watched coldly as Yang Li and the others disappeared over the distant snow-covered hill, his expression unchanged. He slowly sheathed his spear, a hint of undisguised contempt and disdain flashing in his eyes.
"A bunch of idiots," he muttered to himself.
He's not some overly compassionate "coward," nor is he a fool who can be easily swayed by a few "feminist slogans."
In this cruel jungle, compassion is the cheapest and most useless thing.
He only believes in strength and in equal exchange. These women are of no value to him; they only bring trouble.
If it weren't for the fact that they were already in a miserable state and posed no real threat to him, he would have actually taken action and wiped them off the face of the earth.
"Wangcai, process the spoils of war."
Lin Feng gave instructions to the wolf king's deputy beside him, his tone returning to its usual calm.
Wangcai growled and rubbed its nose against Lin Feng's leg. Then it led the other horned wolves to excitedly tear and dismember the huge saber-toothed tiger carcass.
Sunlight shone on the snow-covered plain, reflecting a blinding light. A faint smell of blood filled the air.
Lin Feng stood still, watching the wolves devour their prey, his eyes deep and distant.
He knew that once the snow stopped, this long-silent land would soon become "lively" again.
He also needs to make more thorough preparations for the even more brutal competition for survival that follows.
He turned around and looked at the huge saber-toothed tiger carcass on the ground.
Wangcai was excitedly tearing at the horned wolves with several of them, while two other horned wolves that had been injured in the fight lay to the side whimpering softly. Fortunately, their injuries did not seem fatal; they were just flesh wounds and some minor bone fractures. With the powerful regenerative abilities of horned wolves, they would recover after a period of rest.
Of the two that were knocked away by the saber-toothed tiger, one had already struggled to its feet, while the other was dragged back by its uninjured companion. Lin Feng examined it and found that one of its legs was broken and the other had suffered internal injuries, requiring careful care.
Lin Feng turned around and walked towards the two most seriously injured horned wolves. He took out some crushed hemostatic herbs from his leather pouch and carefully applied them to their wounds. He then used clean animal hide strips to make simple bandages and fix them in place.
These horned wolves were his important fighting partners, and each one was extremely precious.
After treating the wounded wolf, he returned to the saber-toothed tiger's carcass.
The beast's thick, beautiful fur is an excellent material for crafting top-quality winter clothing. Its two enormous saber-shaped teeth are also valuable trophies, which can be forged into incredibly powerful weapons or tools. As for tiger meat, it's a rare and high-quality source of protein after a snowfall.
With the help of the wolves, it took a lot of effort to drag the saber-toothed tiger, which weighed several hundred kilograms, back to the cabin.
Back inside the enclosure, Lin Feng first placed the injured horned wolf in a warm pen, added clean hay and water, and then cut up some relatively tender saber-toothed tiger entrails to supplement their nutrition.
He then began to deal with the saber-toothed tiger.
This was a long and meticulous process. He first used a sharp skinning knife to carefully peel off the whole tiger skin, trying not to damage it in the slightest.
The tanning of this pelt alone takes several days. Then comes the cutting of the tiger meat, deboning, and separating the different parts of the meat according to their intended use.
They are categorized into types: those suitable for roasting, those suitable for air-drying to make jerky, and those suitable for making soup.
Tiger bones can be used to make soup, or processed into bone meal for fertilizer or medicinal purposes.
He collected the tiger's blood, which was a great tonic, beneficial to both himself and the wolf pack.
He kept the internal organs, except for the ones given to the wolves, such as the liver and heart, for cooking.
The tendons of saber-toothed tigers are also valuable; they can be used to make bowstrings or bindings.
Lin Feng was busy all afternoon.
Sunlight moved across the snow, and wisps of smoke rose again from the chimney of the wooden house, filling the courtyard with the rich aroma of meat.
He took out a large iron pot, simmered a pot of tiger bone soup, and cut off a few pieces of the best tiger tenderloin, marinated them with simple spices, and prepared them for dinner.
The little cat, Phantom, had woken up sometime earlier and was lazily lying on the windowsill, watching Lin Feng busy himself, occasionally licking its paws, its emerald green eyes filled with curiosity.
As the last rays of the setting sun were about to disappear below the horizon, Lin Feng finally finished processing most of the saber-toothed tiger's flesh and blood.
In the courtyard, several huge tiger skins were stretched out to dry, and rows of sliced meat were hung on a wooden rack under the eaves, ready to air dry. Bones were piled up to the side, awaiting further processing.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at the sky, and began to plan for the next few days.
The snow has stopped, which means that outdoor activities will gradually become more frequent.
He needed to repair and reinforce the fortifications as soon as possible, replenish the arrows and supplies he had consumed, and at the same time, seize the time to go hunting and stock up on more food.
Just then, a series of rustling footsteps and a few suppressed, tentative calls came from outside the courtyard wall.
"Lin...Lin Feng...Are you there?"
The voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying obvious fatigue and timidity, but Lin Feng recognized it immediately—it was Qin Lan.
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, put down his work, picked up the spear stuck to the side, and slowly walked to the lookout.
On the snow, Qin Lan's figure appeared even more frail.
Behind her followed five women, each equally disheveled but with their own unique "characteristics".
"What is it?"
Lin Feng's voice was calm and even, penetrating the cold wind and reaching their ears clearly.
Hearing Lin Feng's voice, Qin Lan visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
She took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly: "Mr. Lin, the blizzard has passed. We...we want...to beg you, to give us a chance to do some work, to earn some food, to beg for...a place to survive."
She adopted a humble posture and spoke with great sincerity.
The five women behind her also raised their heads, looking at Lin Feng with a mixture of fear and anticipation in their eyes.
Having witnessed too much of the cruelty of the apocalypse, they knew all too well what a powerful protector meant.
They might not know what became of Yang Li and her gang, but as they approached, they could smell the strong stench of blood and the horrifying carcass of a disemboweled beast. This undoubtedly proved the man's power and ruthlessness.
Lin Feng silently scrutinized them.
Of these six women, only Qin Lan seems to have some ability to manage affairs; the other five were perhaps once the pride of heaven.
But in this icy and snowy landscape, their once-proud assets—beauty, fame, wealth, and talent—become worthless.
What he needs are capable laborers, not delicate porcelain dolls that need to be carefully protected.
However, he also noticed that although these women were disheveled, their eyes did not have the same sense of entitlement that Yang Li had.
Their eyes held more of a desire to survive and awe for the strong.
Having experienced true despair and cruelty, they have abandoned those unrealistic fantasies.
"I don't keep idle people here."
Lin Feng's voice remained icy, "Equivalent exchange is my only rule. What can you do?"
Qin Lan was prepared and immediately replied, "Mr. Lin, we can learn anything! Clearing snow, chopping firewood, carrying things, sewing, cooking... As long as you give us a chance, we will do our best! We are not afraid of hardship or fatigue!"
Su Wanqing gritted her teeth, put aside her A-list actress airs, and said in a slightly hoarse but still pleasant voice, "Mr. Lin, I know some first aid and bandaging knowledge, which may be of help. I... I can also do physical labor."
"Tangbao" timidly raised her hand and whispered, "I...I can sing and dance...I...I can also do laundry and clean..."
Shen Jiaqi and Ruan Mengtian nodded quickly, indicating that they were willing to do any work. Qian Xiaoxiao pursed her lips tightly; although she was afraid, her eyes also revealed a stubbornness.
Lin Feng looked at them. He had serious doubts about what kind of physical labor a group of women, who were so weak they couldn't even kill a chicken, could possibly manage.
But as Qin Lan said, they can learn from it.
Moreover, they are better suited than men for some delicate tasks, such as processing animal hides, sewing clothes, and organizing supplies.
“There is an empty wooden shed on the west side of the wall. You can stay there temporarily.”
Lin Feng finally relented, pointing in a direction: "I'll send some hay and animal hides over. Food will be provided daily, calculated based on the amount of work you complete. If anyone slacks off, tries to cheat, or has any improper thoughts..."
His cold gaze swept across the faces of each woman, and an invisible pressure made them shiver involuntarily.
"You will bear the consequences."
"We understand! We will never!"
Qin Lan immediately assured him, her voice filled with relief and joy, "Thank you, Mr. Lin! We will definitely work diligently and will not cause you any trouble!"
The other five women nodded in agreement, like chickens pecking at rice. Having a safe place to stay and a guarantee of food was already a tremendous blessing for them.
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