Traces

Outside the Shadow Forest.

Outside the forest after the snow, all was quiet. At the boundary where the dirt road met the forest, Aidan had already been waiting for a little while.

He was wrapped up tightly, his warm breath condensing into white mist in the chilly air.

Despite the wait, his heart remained full of anticipation, without the slightest hint of impatience. He felt only excitement and eagerness at the prospect of taking action alongside Big Brother Matthew.

Before long, a slightly bloated figure approached from the direction of the village, stepping through the snow with a soft crunching sound—it was Matthew.

He carried two bulging burlap sacks on his back, packed with the sharp wooden spikes he had polished over the past few days and his digging tools. A quiver full of arrows hung at his waist.

Bundled up in thick cotton clothes and laden with gear, he looked rather bulky, yet his steps were steady and powerful, carrying a distinct air of composure.

Seeing Matthew approach, Aidan's face immediately lit up with a smile. His eyes sparkling, he quickly stepped forward to greet him:

“Big Brother Matthew! You're here!”

Matthew smiled and nodded. Stepping closer, he handed one of the sacks to Aidan.

Aidan immediately reached out and caught it steadily, hoisting it onto his shoulder. With an eager expression, he asked, “Big Brother Matthew, are we heading out now?”

At this, the smile on Matthew's face turned into a serious expression. He looked at Aidan and cautioned:

“Aidan, let's not rush in just yet. There are a few things I need to say first. The forest isn't like the village. Although the snow makes it easier to track the Shadow Wolves, it also brings other dangers, and we might disturb something else.

Once we're inside, you must stay close to me. Do not act on your own, and especially do not stray more than three steps away from me. If anything happens, call out to me immediately. Do you understand?”

Aidan immediately reined in his excitement and nodded seriously. “I understand, Big Brother Matthew. I'll definitely stick close to you and won't cause any trouble.”

Matthew felt quite satisfied with this. This was exactly what he appreciated about the boy—he knew his boundaries.

“Our main goal this time is to scout a few locations I preselected, assess the conditions after the snowfall, and ultimately choose the best spot to set up our pitfall traps.

If everything goes smoothly, we'll start digging.

But remember, safety first.

If we notice anything amiss, like unfamiliar footprints or suspicious movements, we retreat immediately and come back another day.”

“Understood!” Aidan agreed without hesitation. He straightened his shoulders under the weight of the wooden spikes, his eyes shining with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

“Let's go,” Matthew said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

One after the other, the two stepped into the Shadow Forest.

The interior of the forest after the snow was a completely different world.

Towering trees blocked out most of the daylight, leaving the forest dim and hazy. The ground was blanketed with soft, fallen leaves covered by a thick layer of snow. With every step, they sank deep, making walking quite exhausting.

Furthermore, a faint white mist drifted through the woods, mingling with their exhaled breath and obscuring their vision.

Silence enveloped them, with only the crunch of snow beneath their feet and the sound of their own breathing echoing through the trees.

Matthew walked in front, his sharp gaze scanning the snow-covered woods.

The abundant life energy coursing through his body after his breakthrough to the Black Iron Rank allowed him to maintain a deep, comfortable warmth even in this dim, freezing environment.

As he forged ahead, he mused:

‘The snowfall has indeed had a massive impact on this forest. The light is dimmer, mist is rolling in, and the ground is soft, making walking much more difficult.

But every coin has two sides. With snow this thick, tracks will also be exceptionally clear.’

Matthew's gaze swept over the snowy ground from time to time, carefully identifying any footprints or tracks that might be present.

This was actually a good thing for Matthew. With his current strength, he was essentially the overlord of the forest's outskirts.

Exposing his own tracks was nothing to fear; his only real worry was not being able to find any traces of the Shadow Wolves.

As long as he found them, the initiative would be in his hands.

With his current strength, combined with 【Melting Slash】 and his hunting bow, he had the confidence to handle even a small pack of Shadow Wolves, and might even wipe them out entirely!

Yet, having lived two lives, he did not dare to be reckless in the slightest.

He knew deep down that the dangers of the forest's inner depths were far beyond what his current strength could handle.

Walking through the snow was arduous, and the two moved forward with extreme caution.

Time slipped by silently. Guided by his memory, Matthew once again arrived near the small stream he had noted before.

The stream was not completely frozen over. Beneath the cover of snow and ice, a trickle of water still flowed under the icy surface, making a faint, gurgling sound.

Matthew raised his hand, signaling Aidan to stop.

He cast his sharp gaze toward the snowy ground by the stream, and his heart leapt with joy!

Sure enough, right at the boundary of the mud and snow near the stream, some messy footprints were visible.

The prints varied in size and depth, ranging from hooves to claws, clearly left by different animals at different times.

They crisscrossed and ran parallel to one another, pressed into the snow and the soft mud along the bank.

Matthew's sharp eyes swept over these tracks, and soon, his attention was captured by a specific, unusual mark.

Beside the numerous animal footprints, several exceptionally large and remarkably clear claw prints were stamped into the ground.

These claw prints were more than a size larger than those of an ordinary Shadow Wolf. Pressed deeply into the slushy snow, they easily betrayed the powerful physique of their owner.

“It seems that besides the Shadow Wolves, this watering hole has attracted some other 'big guy'.”

Matthew thought to himself, his vigilance instantly spiking to the absolute maximum.

“This is likely a result of the recent changes within the forest.”

“Fortunately, the tracks are very fresh, meaning it has just left and won't be returning anytime soon.”

Seeing Matthew's solemn expression, Aidan whispered in a barely audible voice, “What's wrong, Big Brother Matthew?”

Matthew shook his head, slowly withdrawing his gaze. After a moment of thought, he said:

“It's nothing. We'll dig the pit right around here.”

“Alright.”

Action spoke louder than words. Without another syllable, the two immediately began searching for a suitable spot.

As for why Matthew still chose this location, after a brief consideration, he had three reasons:

First, the area was close to a water source and saw dense animal activity, which was verified by the complex tracks on the snow. Furthermore, the soil in other places was too hard and thick, which would consume too much time.

Second, although he had discovered the massive claw prints indicating a powerful "big guy" might be roaming around, the tracks were very fresh. This meant it had just left and wouldn't return in the short term, making this the perfect time to set up.

The last and most crucial point.

Wealth is found in danger!

If this giant beast were to fall into Matthew's trap and have its strength severely reduced, there might even be an unexpected harvest.

And if they still couldn't defeat it even under those conditions, then it wouldn't make a difference where they set up the trap anyway.