The six wolf traps are classic "double-spring long traps," simple in structure yet deadly. And those two bear traps are astonishingly large, just looking at them sends a chill down your spine.

"Emily," Lin Yu’an called out, "Help me get some dried grass and birch bark, make sure it’s shredded a bit."

"Okay."

"Aliya, help me bring that bucket of animal grease."

Soon, the preparations were complete.

"Remember, indoors, we only do the preparation work, never set the trap," Lin Yu’an’s tone was extremely serious, as if declaring an iron rule.

He evenly applied animal grease to the springs and joints of each trap, to prevent rust and to mask the cold steel scent.

Then, he sprinkled the trap and chain with the shredded hay and birch bark, for initial scent disguise. All preparations were completed.

At ten at night, Lin Yu’an donned his lightest stealth attire, put on a headlamp, and those deerskin gloves smoked with pine needles, telling his two wives: "I’m going out to set up, lock the doors at home."

He glanced at Whiskey, who was dozing off in front of the fireplace, and added, "Whiskey stays here; the more animals there are, the more mixed the scent, making it easier to detect."

The Bernese Mountain Dog seemed to understand, only lifted its eyelids a bit, and continued to lie down.

Lin Yu’an slung a backpack filled with traps and tools, carrying a snow shovel, and like a ghost blending into the night, silently stepped into the cold night outside.

Outside, the temperature had dropped to minus thirty degrees. In the night sky, the stars were dazzling, sprinkled like diamonds on black velvet.

He didn’t head directly towards the woods in the back but first went to the front of the chicken coop. This was an open area and the main point of defense.

He chose two hidden spots at dead angles of the chicken coop’s front defense, about fifteen meters away. He carefully shoveled the snow away, just deep enough to place the entire trap.

Then, he took a wolf trap from the backpack, placed it on the ground, and with heavy winter boots, stomped hard on the springs on both sides, using all his strength to press down the springs.

With a "snap," he successfully pressed the spring in place. Then, carefully, with gloved hands, pried open the trap arms on both sides, fixing them with the small "trigger plate."

The whole process, he held his breath, his movements slow and steady, sweat beads forming on his forehead. The tension is immense, a slight mistake, and it’s his fingers that would be ruined.

He then gently lowered this tensioned "steel landmine," now scented and disguised, into the pit.

The chain connecting the trap was securely fastened to a spiral ground nail buried deep in the snow, ensuring no prey could drag the trap away.

Finally, he covered the opened trap arms with a thin piece of birch bark to prevent it from being pressed down by falling snow, and carefully covered it evenly with the fluffy snow he had dug up.

The whole process was meticulous, his movements gentle as if he were a combat engineer performing precise mine-laying operations. When he finished, this patch of snow was indistinguishable from the surrounding area, as if nothing had happened.

After completing all this, he then moved towards the woods behind the chicken coop.

He arrived at the first predetermined location, a narrow passage between two giant spruce trees, a must-path for animals approaching the chicken coop from the forest.

With the same professional, meticulous method, he set up the third trap.

Then came the fourth, fifth... On all the infiltration routes marked on the map that wolf packs might exploit, he laid down death traps in the same manner.

When he finished setting the last trap, nearly an hour had passed. He didn’t linger unnecessarily and immediately retraced his steps back to the cabin.

Aliya and Emily hadn’t gone to sleep yet, sitting by the fireplace, talking softly, waiting for him.

"Is everything set?" Aliya asked with concern.

"Everything is set." Lin Yu’an nodded, stepping to the fireplace, extending his hands stiff from the cold to warm them. "Six wolf traps, two bear traps, all deployed. Any that dare come will pay the price."

After warming by the fire, he turned to look at his two wives, his tone becoming exceedingly serious: "The eight trap points marked on the map, you must remember them by heart."

"In these upcoming days, under no circumstances let Whiskey and Honey go run off by themselves. Walking the dogs requires a leash, and only on the open space in front of our house."

"We’ve got it," Emily and Aliya nodded solemnly.

Lin Yu’an gazed outside at the deep, tranquil darkness, his eyes became as calm as the ice surface.

Traps are only the first line of defense; the real deterrence always comes from the weapon in the hunter’s hand.

He said no more and instead walked straight to the corner of the living room, opening the gun cabinet made of heavy steel plates with a key.

He took out a rifle from it.

It was his custom-ordered Winchester Model 70 Rifle, yet different from the ordinary M70. The walnut wood of the gun was top-tier "AAA-level" grain, expertly hand-polished and oiled, presenting a deep, warm glow like amber.

Most crucially, its barrel and action were specially customized by professional gunsmiths to accommodate the more powerful ".300 Winchester Magnum" ammunition.