SFS Chapter 243 Super Defense Matrix
Chapter 243 Super Defense Matrix
Chapter 243 Super Defense Matrix (5K words, requesting monthly votes at the beginning of the month!)
Lin Yu'an glanced at the watch Emily had given him; almost three hours had passed. The sky outside was beginning to transition from a pale, bright blue to a deep indigo.
He picked up the blade blank with tongs and placed it in the cooling sandbox beside him, his tone tinged with reluctance, "It's getting late, I have to go back. Arya and the others must be worried."
"Yes, it's not safe in the woods after dark." Old George nodded, praising his family-oriented attitude.
He looked at Lin Yu'an, his serious face full of undisguised satisfaction. "Kid, you did a great job today. A hundred times better than I expected."
Old George walked to the other end of the workshop and pulled out two strings of things that rattled and were covered in rust and dirt from a pile of junk.
Those were eight enormous wolf traps, made of thick steel with sharp serrations; just looking at them sent chills down one's spine.
"Take these back with you." Old George's tone was as indifferent as if he were handing him a few potatoes.
"The two large ones are 'bear traps,' they're strong, but don't use them lightly, they can easily injure someone. The other six are specifically for dealing with wolves and wolf packs, remember, when setting the traps, don't leave any human scent behind."
"Thank you, George." Lin Yu'an solemnly accepted the heavy steel defensive works.
"As for the blade blank you forged," old George pointed to the sandbox, "just leave it here for now. Come back tomorrow, and I'll teach you the next step."
Annealing, polishing, and quenching. Those are the crucial steps that determine whether a piece of iron ultimately becomes scrap or a treasure.
"I see."
Lin Yu'an carefully tied eight animal traps to the back rack of the snowmobile, then said goodbye to old George.
"See you tomorrow, kid." Old George stood at the workshop entrance, hands behind his back, looking at him.
See you tomorrow, Uncle George.
Lin Yu'an mounted his snowmobile and glanced back. He saw that old George was still standing there, his figure like a silent statue in the warm glow of the workshop's fireplace.
He twisted the accelerator, carrying that heavy harvest and an even heavier sense of responsibility, and sped towards home.
Lin Yu'an felt uneasy on the way. After Old George's wife passed away from illness, in this vast and desolate land, the old man seemed to have only this fiery workshop and those cold steel pieces for company.
He so unreservedly passed on all his skills to a young man from a foreign land whom he had just met. Behind that profound friendship, was there also a hidden desire for inheritance and a sense of helplessness in the face of loneliness?
The road back seemed darker than the way there. The headlights of the snowmobiles were turned up to their brightest, and the white beams pierced the darkness, illuminating the narrow snow track ahead.
He was highly vigilant, constantly watching for any suspicious movement in the woods. Those animal traps could become the first line of defense for his family tonight.
When Lin Yu'an returned home, it was already completely dark. The warm light in the wooden house, like the only lighthouse in the wind and snow, guided him home.
He parked the snowmobile and carefully unloaded the eight heavy animal traps.
Arya and Emily heard the noise and immediately opened the door.
"You're back! Why did you take so long? Did you get the things?"
"Hmm, six wolf traps and two large bear traps." Lin Yu'an placed the animal traps on the wooden floor of the porch, making a dull metallic clanging sound.
Arya pointed to the grotesque steel artifacts in his hands, "Let's eat first, the food is still warm."
Inside the cozy cabin, the family sat around the dining table. Dinner was creamy mushroom soup and toast, made by Arya herself, and the aroma filled the air.
Lin Yu'an told the two women that he had returned a little late because he was learning forging from Old George. The two women showed expressions of understanding and expressed their support.
After dinner, once the children were settled to sleep, Lin Yu'an carried the eight animal traps to the fireplace in the living room.
"We need to make some plans," he said, looking at his two wives with a serious expression.
He spread out a topographical map of the area around the cabin, clearly marking the cabin, chicken coop, warehouse, and surrounding treeline.
"A bear trap is a double-edged sword," Lin Yu'an's voice was low and clear. "It can protect us, but it can also hurt us."
Even whiskey and honey. Therefore, we must establish the strictest rules.
"Only place them on the 'must-pass' routes." He pointed to several narrow passages on the map between the chicken coop and the treeline behind it. Wolves are clever; they will definitely use the trees and terrain for cover. These are their most likely infiltration routes.
"And make sure to mark the spots." He looked at Arya and Emily, saying each word carefully, "Every place where a trap has been set..."
We should all make a mark nearby that only we ourselves understand.
"For example, tie a red ribbon to the tree next to us. Each of us must remember these locations as firmly as we remember our own names."
Arya and Emily nodded solemnly.
"Alright, let's begin." Lin Yu'an stood up.
He took out a thick pair of deerskin gloves from the storeroom and then repeatedly smoked them with pine needles and birch bark to completely mask the human smell.
He put on gloves and began to inspect the animal traps one by one.
Those six wolf traps were classic "double-spring long traps," simple in structure yet deadly. The two bear traps, on the other hand, were shockingly large; just looking at them sent chills down one's spine.
"Emily," Lin Yu'an called out, "bring me some hay and birch bark, and chop them up a bit."
"OK."
"Arya, bring me that bucket of animal fat."
Soon, the preparations were complete.
"Remember, indoors, we only do preparatory work, never wind up the clips." Lin Yu'an's tone was extremely serious, as if he were announcing an ironclad rule.
He evenly applied animal fat to the springs and joints of each clamp, both to prevent rust and to mask the cold smell of steel.
Next, bits of hay and birch bark are sprinkled onto the clips and chains for initial scent camouflage. All preparations are now complete.
At 10 p.m., Lin Yu'an put on his lightest stealth clothing, headlamp, and deerskin gloves scented with pine needles, and said to his two wives, "I'm going out to make arrangements. You two lock the doors at home."
He glanced at the whiskey, which was slumped over the fireplace, half-asleep, and added, "The whiskey is left; the more animals, the more mixed the smells."
On the contrary, it's easier to be detected.
The Bernese Mountain Dog seemed to understand something, but it merely raised its eyelids slightly before lying back down.
With a backpack containing animal traps and tools on his back and a snow shovel in his hand, Lin Yu'an, like a ghost blending into the night, silently stepped into the cold night outside.
Outside, the temperature had dropped to minus thirty degrees Celsius. In the night sky, the stars shone brightly, like diamonds scattered on the black velvet.
Instead of heading directly into the woods behind the henhouse, he first went to the front of the henhouse, an open area that was also the most important part of the defense.
He chose two concealed spots in the blind spots of the chicken coop, about fifteen meters away. He carefully dug through the snow with a snow shovel, just deep enough to accommodate the entire animal trap.
Then, he took out a wolf trap from his backpack, placed it on the flat ground, and stomped hard on the springs on both sides with his feet, which were wearing heavy winter boots. He then used all his strength to press the springs down.
With a "click," he successfully pressed the spring into place, and then carefully used his gloved hands to pry open the clamps on both sides and secure them with a small "trigger."
Throughout the entire process, he held his breath, his movements slow and steady, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. This thing was incredibly powerful; the slightest mistake could have ruined his fingers.
Then, he gently placed the cocked "steel mine" and the wolf trap, which was already cocked and scent-camouflaged, into the pit.
The chain connecting the trap is securely fastened at one end to a spiral stake buried deep in the snow, ensuring that no prey can escape while dragging the trap.
Finally, he covered the open arms with a thin sheet of birch bark to prevent it from being compacted by falling snow, and then carefully covered it evenly with the loose, dug-out snow.
Throughout the entire process, he was meticulous, his movements as gentle as a corps engineer performing a precision mine-laying operation. When he finished,
This snowfield looked no different from its surroundings, as if nothing had ever happened.
After doing all this, he walked towards the grove of trees behind the chicken coop.
He arrived at the first designated location, a narrow passage between two huge spruce trees, the only way for animals to approach the chicken coop from the forest.
He used the same professional and meticulous methods to set up a third trap.
Then came the fourth, the fifth—all the infiltration routes he had pre-planned on the map that could potentially be used by the wolves.
They all used the same method to lay deadly traps.
By the time he finished setting the last trap, almost an hour had passed. Without lingering, he immediately retraced his steps back to the cabin.
Arya and Emily were still awake, sitting in front of the fireplace, talking quietly as they waited for him.
"Is everything ready?" Arya asked with concern.
"Everything's ready." Lin Yu'an nodded, walked to the fireplace, and warmed his hands, which were stiff from the cold, by the fire. "Six wolf traps,"
Both bear traps are in place. Anyone who dares to come will pay the price.
After warming himself by the fire, he turned to his two wives, his tone becoming extremely serious: "You must memorize the eight trap points marked on the map."
"These next few days, we absolutely cannot let Whitkey and Honey run out to play on their own. They must be leashed when we walk them, and only in the open space in front of our house."
"We understand." Emily and Arya nodded solemnly.
Lin Yu'an looked out the window at the deep, tranquil darkness, his eyes becoming as calm as ice.
Traps are only the first line of defense; true power always comes from the weapons in the hunter's hands.
He didn't say anything more, but walked straight to the gun cabinet made of heavy steel plates in the corner of the living room and opened it with the key.
He took a rifle out of it.
That was a Winchester M70 rifle he had previously commissioned, but it was different from the ordinary M70. The walnut wood on the gun body was top-grade "AAA" with a fine grain, and it had been carefully hand-polished and oiled, giving it a deep, warm, amber-like luster.
Most importantly, its chamber and bolt were custom-made by professional gunsmiths to accommodate the more powerful .300.
Winchester Magnum ammunition.
This is a modern beast disguised in classic attire.
He took the rifle to the carpet in front of the fireplace, spread out a special gun cleaning mat, and then took out a complete set of maintenance tools: carbon fiber cleaning strips, cleaning cloths, Hope 9 gun oil, and a nylon brush—
The flickering flames in the fireplace illuminated his focused profile as he skillfully removed the bolt and took out a small cloth soaked in gun oil.
It is threaded onto the cleaning rod and then slowly and steadily pushed forward from the end of the barrel.
"Hiss!"
The cleaning cloth, passing through the specially reinforced precision rifling for firing .300 Winchester Magnum rounds, produces a captivatingly subtle scraping sound.
He repeated this action over and over again, and then used a small brush to carefully clean every tiny corner of the bolt.
No dust or impurities that could affect firing are overlooked.
The only sounds in the living room were the crackling of firewood in the fireplace and the crisp metallic clinking of his guns as he maintained them.
Arya and Emily watched him quietly, without disturbing him. From his focused and steady movements, they sensed a powerful and reassuring strength.
He even secretly hoped that the wolves would attack.
It wasn't just about eliminating the threat. It was also because he craved a fight! To test his right to survive on this land, and to establish greater prestige in the Weisman community. As he steadily loaded the last .300 Winchester Magnum rifle cartridge into the magazine, he pushed the gleaming bolt back into place with an even crisper "click."
He leaned the rifle against the fireplace in the most convenient spot, raised his head, and looked out the window again.
At this moment, there was no trace of tension in his eyes.
Instead, it is replaced by a patience unique to hunters waiting for their prey.
December 27st, early morning.
The night passed without incident; the family heard the wolf's howling, the scratching at the door, or the pitiful howl of a triggered animal trap.
None of them have appeared.
This extreme tranquility, however, felt like a huge boulder, weighing heavily on his heart.
As the sky began to lighten with a hue between deep blue and bright white, Lin Yu'an quietly got out of bed. Without disturbing anyone, he took his Winchester M70 and stepped into the chilly morning air.
He cautiously followed the footprints he had left the night before toward the first trap. A thin layer of fresh frost covered the snow, shimmering like diamonds in the morning light, beautiful yet cold.
Any fresh footprints would be impossible to miss in this terrain. He conducted a thorough search, examining all possible passes and tunnels.
However, nothing was found.
He arrived at the first trap point and crouched down.
The snow surface was as smooth as ever, and even the footprints he left last night were perfectly covered by a layer of fresh frost, leaving no trace.
There were no new footprints, no new smells, not even a single animal footprint. The entire forest was as quiet as a giant tomb.
After completing the reconnaissance of the surrounding area, he began to check the traps he had set up the night before.
The second and third traps, all eight animal snares, from the open area in front of the chicken coop to the main path in the woods behind it, were all silently lurking under the snow.
The wolf pack didn't come. They vanished without a trace, as if they had dissolved into the air.
Lin Yu'an didn't dwell on it any longer. He knew that dealing with such a cunning opponent was a test of patience. From today onward, daily patrols would become his unwavering routine.
He hurried back to the cabin.
When he returned home, Arya and Emily were already up. The aroma of waffles and coffee wafted from the kitchen, and the fire in the fireplace had been reignited, dispelling the morning chill.
"How are you?" Emily asked with concern, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
"Nothing happened." Lin Yu'an took off his cold coat and shook his head. "The trap wasn't triggered, and there are no new traces around. They're very patient."
"Maybe we scared them away?" Arya came over with a plate of steaming pancakes, trying to comfort them.
"Perhaps," Lin Yu'an smiled, not revealing his opinion. He knew that for the wolf pack, a lack of harvest didn't mean giving up; it simply meant they were waiting for a better opportunity. He didn't want them to worry too much.
He washed his face, changed into comfortable home clothes, and then took the leash from Arya.
"Whiskey, honey, the babies are off, on patrol!" The two big dogs wagged their tails excitedly and followed him out of the cabin.
He led the whiskey, carefully circling the cabin and chicken coop once again, letting the whiskey refresh the scent of this territory in the most primal way.
When they returned from patrol, a hearty and comforting breakfast was already laid out on the table: golden pancakes, fresh blueberries, and aromatic coffee and milk. Olivia and Ethan sat in their high chairs, waving their little hands curiously.
At the dinner table, the three of them stopped discussing the wolves. Since the threat already existed, they decided to deal with it calmly. Excessive anxiety...
It will only ruin this precious family time.
After breakfast, Lin Yu'an kissed the two children on the forehead and then hugged Alia and Emily goodbye.
"I'm going to find Uncle George."
"be safe."
He hopped onto the more agile Polaris snowmobile, the engine roaring crisply as it carried him deeper into the snowfield to finish what he hadn't accomplished the day before.
"Here you are, kid." Old George nodded when he saw him, pointing to the box full of cooling sand next to the anvil. "Your work is still lying there."
"Uncle George, I'm here to continue yesterday's lesson." Lin Yu'an got straight to the point, his eyes filled with eagerness for the next lesson.
"Hmm." Old George seemed to have expected him to say that. (Hehe, the 10,000-subscription mark has been achieved! I'll update six chapters of 30,000 words at the beginning of the month! My dear brothers, please vote for me with your monthly tickets!)