Chapter 48

Lin Bei's trip downstream of the small river this time proved to be quite fruitful. First, he discovered the tracks of large wild beasts. The so-called large wild beasts referred to tigers, bears, and the like. The tracks Lin Bei found were even larger than these. Coupled with the Asian elephants he had seen a few days ago, he had ample reason to believe that a herd of elephants had passed through here not long ago.

Elephants generally inhabit grasslands or deserts, and their activity in forests is relatively low. Forests are too dangerous for them. If they encounter a hungry pack of wolves or wild dogs, they might even be attacked. Moreover, they can easily lose their way in the forest, leading to separation from their herd. A lone elephant in the forest is quite dangerous.

However, now the outside world is dominated by humans, and there was no concept of protecting animals in ancient times. Any wild beast seen would be killed, so the elephant herds had no choice but to take the risk of entering the forest.

"Look at these thick footprints. The number of elephants is estimated to be over ten. I wonder if it's one herd or two. Perhaps one of the herds is the Asian elephants I saw before. Since I have occupied the upstream area, these herds can only travel a long distance to drink water downstream. This suggests that there might be no water source within a wide range."

In the forest, only the most powerful beasts can occupy the best territories. The rest, which are more gentle and less powerful, will retreat. Although elephants are large in size, they are not good at fighting and naturally avoid Lin Bei. Even wild boars dare not wander around Lin Bei's territory, as they instinctively sense the extreme danger there, even though Lin Bei has no intention of killing all the wild boars.

"If there's a chance, I should let these elephants live well. It would be best to designate an area for them," Lin Bei muttered. "Additionally, perhaps elephants can coexist peacefully with humans."

In the future, Asian elephants have become quite rare, and most of them have been killed by humans for their ivory. This is a symbol of the elephants' misfortune, as it is precisely because of the ivory that hunting continues unabated.

But what if elephants were integrated into human society, like oxen? As far as Lin Bei knows, the use of elephants as beasts of burden dates back to ancient times. It is well-known that King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty once rode an elephant to attack the Dongyi tribes, and Meng Huo's mount was also an elephant, possibly even a mammoth.

Elephants are actually more powerful than oxen because they are larger and stronger. Using them to replace oxen is clearly feasible. Therefore, if they can be integrated into human society, elephants will not only not be killed but will be protected, just as ancient people protected oxen. Killing oxen was a serious crime in ancient times, punishable by death.

Lin Bei had already formed a vague plan in his mind, waiting for the people from Xishan Township to come and trade with him.

In addition to the elephant tracks, Lin Bei also brought back over a dozen eggs. He found them in a muddy beach, which looked like a scene from a car accident, with tracks of various wild beasts everywhere and countless broken eggshells scattered in the mud. Seeing this, Lin Bei immediately thought it was a turtle nesting site, but it had been destroyed by wild beasts.

After a thorough search, Lin Bei found these dozen or so live turtle eggs scattered in various corners of the muddy beach. If he had arrived a few days later, these eggs would have been destroyed. Lin Bei, of course, would not let that happen, so he collected the eggs and took them back, intending to hatch them.

Lin Bei planned to raise a batch of turtles to make soup and satisfy his appetite. However, he did not expect that these turtle eggs would bring him a pleasant surprise.

Lin Bei also went to the very downstream of the small river and found that it eventually flowed into a cave. The cave was not very large, and Lin Bei did not enter it. However, he guessed that there must be another exit inside, and the river water might re-emerge as a spring elsewhere or continue flowing underground.

After checking the small river, Lin Bei hurried back. As soon as he returned to Longtan, he heard a weak, mournful cry. He listened carefully for a while, and his face changed. It sounded like the cry of a wild dog. Could it be the female wild dog?

He quickly glanced at Didi, Qiqi, and the snake eggs on the wooden house. They had not been attacked by any intruders. Lin Bei put down the turtle eggs and re-entered the forest, heading straight for the female wild dog's den.

From a distance, Lin Bei could already smell the strong scent of blood in the air, and the cries became clearer. It was indeed the cry of a wild dog, but these were newborn pups. Their mother, the female wild dog, had already died.

The female wild dog had been injured by some animal, her body torn apart, her blood dried, and her body stiff. The six pups, sensing their mother's death, were crying in mourning. They might also be hungry, as their mother could no longer provide them with milk.

Lin Bei was quite angry. He had left his scent around the female wild dog, so which animal dared to invade his territory and kill her? However, this was not the time to focus on that. The six pups needed to be fed.

The pups had already opened their eyes, so it was impossible to make them recognize Lin Bei as their mother. However, Lin Bei's nature compelled him to raise the pups. He had a special love for small creatures. Lin Bei sighed. He had been in this world for not long, but he had already become a "milk dad" to several animals. According to his nature, he would only adopt more animals in the future, as the forest was full of such orphaned young animals.

Lin Bei approached the den. The pups, though only a day old, sensed the arrival of danger. However, they were too small to do anything and could only huddle tightly against their mother's cold, lifeless body, hoping for warmth.

"Meeting me is your good fortune," Lin Bei sighed. He carefully wrapped the six pups in leaves and gently tied them with vines, then slowly carried them back. The entire process was very cautious, as he was afraid of hurting the little ones. As for the female wild dog, Lin Bei glanced at her and then left her alone. Nature has its own laws, and the female wild dog would become food for other animals, just as she had eaten other animals in her lifetime. This was her fate.

After bringing the pups back, Lin Bei made a nest for them with soft grass. They continued to cry incessantly, both in mourning and from hunger. They could only express their feelings through their cries. Lin Bei was quite troubled. These little ones had no teeth and needed milk, but where could he find milk? Lin Bei didn't have any...

Being a "milk dad" is quite a tough job.