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Chapter 19: Gu Lang’s Brilliant Deduction
Even Wang Ping hadn’t expected hyenas to hold a grudge to such an extent.
After chasing them from last night’s campsite, the pack of hyenas had followed relentlessly for nearly 100 kilometers. Now, by the banks of a river on the outskirts of Ngasumet, Gu Lang, still obsessively trying to wash his car, was once again alerted by Rosette to the presence of their pursuers.
This wasn’t just a case of being stalked anymore; unless they could shake the hyenas off, even setting up camp for the night would become a problem.
Of course, Gu Lang had driven at a snail’s pace along the way, constantly looking over his shoulder, making it no surprise that they’d been caught by the hyenas, who weren’t known for their speed. The group had passed Ngasumet, and with only 150 kilometers left to reach the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, Wang Ping wasn’t too worried about rushing.
Compared to dealing with human rescue teams, Wang Ping would rather face a pack of hyenas.
However, Rosette wasn’t in great shape. Despite Gu Lang’s efforts to bandage her wounds, the injury to her hind leg wasn’t something that would heal quickly. If she had to confront the hyenas again in this state, there was a real chance she could end up permanently disabled.
The fate of a disabled leopard on the savanna was easy to imagine. Having come to regard Rosette as one of his own, Wang Ping couldn’t let that happen.
Wang Ping’s wilderness knowledge far surpassed that of a rookie like Gu Lang. Even without navigation tools or the internet, he could determine their current location with precision based on the position of the sun and their driving speed.
Unfortunately, the car’s GPS map was touchscreen-operated, and even though he knew their approximate position, he couldn’t verify it. He had no choice but to trust his memory.
If he wasn’t mistaken, about 20 kilometers due west of Ngasumet was a lion pride’s territory.
Though Wang Ping had never conducted conservation work in this area, he remembered it clearly because he had once accompanied his team to Ngasumet to support another group working there. The memory had stuck in his mind.
If they wanted to avoid using violence to shake off the hyenas, taking the risk of passing through the lion pride’s territory and letting the two predator groups clash was the best option—provided, of course, that they didn’t get caught by the lions first. It was a game of timing.
Gu Lang was about to start a fire to cook when Rosette caught the scent of prey, crouched low, and disappeared into the grass.
As they drove away, Gu Lang repeatedly tried to “make amends” with Wang Ping.
After what happened the night before, Gu Lang had clearly noticed a shift in how Wang Ping and Rosette treated him. Today was no exception.
However, at Lake Ambussel, Wang Ping, who had been quietly sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly seemed to snap, revealing his long-hidden “fangs.” If Rosette hadn’t maintained her aloof demeanor and continued to ignore him, Gu Lang might have suffered a heart attack out of sheer terror.
If even this leopard also showed hostility toward him, Gu Lang felt he might need to think twice about every breath he took.
“Could it really just be because of the camera?”
After much thought and observing Wang Ping’s behavior, Gu Lang decided this was the most plausible explanation.
Reflecting on all his interactions with Wang Ping since they’d first met, it was obvious this “special individual” was unlike ordinary animals. Wang Ping’s familiarity with human society was enough to make Gu Lang feel a little embarrassed. He was convinced that Wang Ping must have spent a significant amount of time living among humans.
“Could it be that this honey badger was once subjected to human surveillance and abuse? And it escaped from captivity?”
“Maybe I misunderstood from the start. Sure, it’s been trained, but it was probably not by a professional animal trainer—most likely by some ragtag circus troupe. It’s likely been beaten and abused countless times, which is why it harbors such intense hostility toward devices like cameras.”
The more Gu Lang thought about it, the more convinced he became of his theory. In just a few moments, his imagination had conjured up a dramatic tale of a honey badger enduring unspeakable mistreatment in a circus, leading a daring escape alongside its equally tormented companion to break free from human society. Perhaps seeing the camera in Gu Lang’s car had triggered memories of those days, locked in a cage, surrounded by surveillance cameras, constantly beaten and starved. That would explain its sudden outburst.
Piecing it all together, the story had a background, a cause, and a logical chain of events. To Gu Lang, the conclusion was airtight and worthy of serious consideration.
“I’m a freaking genius!” Gu Lang felt he had uncovered a hidden truth. His heart swelled with a sense of achievement, and as he glanced at Wang Ping, his once simpleminded expression now carried a hint of sympathy and pity.
“What’s wrong with this guy?” Wang Ping glanced at the suddenly sentimental Gu Lang, puzzled. He couldn’t help but marvel at how oblivious this guy was.
Gu Lang wasn’t the only one revising his impressions. Wang Ping had been doing the same. Yesterday, he’d dismissed Gu Lang as mentally weak and low in intelligence. But now, Wang Ping was beginning to reevaluate.
Someone who had spent an entire day and night alone with a wild predator, still had the presence of mind to attempt self-rescue, and even found time to concoct an absurd backstory—that wasn’t someone with weak nerves.
But Wang Ping didn’t want to admit how good this guy’s mental fortitude was. After all, his first impression had been so poor that he could only attribute it to him being so blissfully oblivious to the situation he was in.
The sun was still high, and there was enough daylight left to make it through the lion pride’s territory if they hurried. Wang Ping roughly calculated their direction and returned to the car.
By then, the campfire pot hanging over the flames was emitting a tempting aroma, and Gu Lang, who had somehow pulled out a brush from somewhere, was preparing to wash his car.
“Hey, uh, Boss… there’s instant noodles cooking in the pot. If you’re hungry, the beef jerky in the backpack is untouched. You can have it all…”
Gu Lang had initially intended to address Wang Ping as “Buzz-Cut Bro,” but mid-sentence, as if inspired by some divine instinct, he changed it to “Boss.” Even he found the adjustment a little strange.
This guy finally gets it! Ready to become my sidekick? Wang Ping thought, pleased with the new title. He went along with it and climbed into the car to grab the last two packs of beef jerky, leaning against the car door to eat.
Not long after, the grass rustled in the distance. Rosette emerged, her head drooping, and lay down in a corner far from the fire, clearly unhappy.
Aside from the half-eaten hyena carcass in the morning, Rosette hadn’t eaten all day. While this was par for the course for leopards, she was still visibly displeased, especially given her injury, which made everything harder.
Wang Ping considered this for a moment, put the beef jerky back in the bag, and walked over to Rosette.
Though not ideal, beef jerky was at least high in calories. Better than nothing, he figured. He’d just bum some instant noodles from Gu Lang later.
As he placed the beef jerky in front of Rosette, she whimpered softly and licked his face. Pushing her away, Wang Ping left the jerky bag in front of her. She sniffed it, hooked a piece with her tongue, and began eating.
“You two have such a bond!” Gu Lang’s voice came from behind, tinged with admiration. “Nature is truly amazing. Who would have thought a honey badger and a leopard could be friends? You must’ve gone through some tough times together in the circus!”
Circus? Wang Ping turned to look at Gu Lang in confusion. Who is he calling a circus animal?
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