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Chapter 7: An Overwhelming Urge
The viewers in Gu Lang's livestream were on the edge of their seats. Many had already alerted chat moderators and customer support. Even the officials at Douyu had quickly tuned into Gu Lang's stream and were reaching out to the Chinese embassy in Tanzania to see if any rescue options were feasible.
However, the Chinese embassy in Tanzania was located in Dar es Salaam, on the southeastern coast—more than a thousand kilometers from Gu Lang’s current location. That distance seemed insignificant compared to the imminent threat posed by the nearby leopard, rendering the chances of timely rescue virtually nil.
Besides, Gu Lang's accident had occurred in a coordinate-free area. Without any tracking devices on him, and with his only visible equipment being an unshared GPS, the viewers were left in the dark regarding his exact position.
Douyu officials were now deeply regretting ever agreeing to Gu Lang’s request for a wilderness stream. He had, after all, assured them he was well-versed in survival skills, with a list of certificates to back up his claims. However, as soon as the stream began, viewers realized he had plenty of theoretical knowledge, but his real-life survival skills were nonexistent.
The off-road vehicle’s windshield was completely shattered, the hood was flipped up, and the radiator cap had likely been blown off in the crash, sending up steam. The camera, originally attached to the front windshield, was still wired to the vehicle, leaving it hanging from the hood instead of flying off with Gu Lang. From the current angle, viewers had a clear view of a golden figure approaching slowly through the grass.
Even those unfamiliar with a leopard’s stalking technique had seen enough cats hunt birds to recognize this. The massive “wild kitty” was crouching as if ready to pounce.
At this point, no one was posting in the chat anymore. Everyone watched in tense silence, fearing Gu Lang’s fate was sealed.
The leopard, Rosette, halted ten meters from the vehicle, crouching in the grass, eyes fixed on Gu Lang, with a menacing glint.
Wang Ping slid off Rosette’s back, gently tapped her on the head to keep her calm, and walked towards the vehicle.
Viewers were astounded by this strange sight. They couldn’t help but question everything they’d learned about wildlife and all they’d read online about “Buzz-Cut Bro.”
Wasn’t Buzz-Cut Bro supposed to be aggressive? And what about the leopard? Wasn’t it a proud predator? Were African savanna animals always this peaceful? And what was with the Buzz-Cut Bro’s hand gesture to the leopard? Did it just signal it like a pet owner? Could it be that the cartoon “Little Mouse on the Prairie” from their childhood was based on real events?
In that moment, many self-proclaimed intellectuals in the stream were experiencing an existential crisis.
“Uh…can I ask a question?”
A cautious comment floated across the screen.
“I want to ask, too!”
“Same here.”
“Are they working together?”
“What’s the relationship between the Buzz-Cut Bro and the leopard?”
One comment sparked a wave of curiosity as viewers struggled to contain their interest. Also, Wang Ping’s small frame next to the massive leopard gave off a “mouse riding a cat” vibe, which seemed to make the danger less apparent.
Wang Ping inspected the vehicle interior. There was a GPS, a tablet—nothing unusual. In the backseat was a backpack containing some snacks and water. No firearms, but in the bag, Wang Ping found a bootleg tiger-tooth knife worth maybe fifty yuan.
Looks like another fool who’d been lured to Africa by tales of the wild, he thought, shaking his head. Snagging a bag of beef jerky from the pack, he hopped out of the car and headed toward the front.
Seeing that Wang Ping was safe, Rosette trotted over and nudged him affectionately.
The viewers were dumbfounded. Not even the world’s best zoologists could explain the surreal image of a badger and a leopard sitting side by side, sharing a bag of beef jerky.
Wang Ping was ravenous. He hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours since waking up—his closest brush with food had been that zoo incident—a memory filled with nothing but bitterness.
Rosette was doing a bit better, as she’d managed to pounce on a wild duck at a waterhole while they were on the move. She’d even offered some to Wang Ping, but he’d politely declined.
It wasn’t that Wang Ping was squeamish. On missions, he’d eaten plenty of things raw—bugs, scorpions, you name it. But watching Rosette scarf down her meal with feathers sticking to her mouth didn’t exactly whet his appetite.
Wang Ping downed most of the beef jerky, feeling his strength return and his hunger abate. He hopped onto the hood, looking up at Gu Lang, who was hanging on a tree.
Young and evidently wealthy, was Wang Ping’s first impression. He noticed the luxury outdoor watch on Gu Lang’s wrist—the same brand Wang Ping had once owned.
Without money, he thought, Gu Lang would probably be back home doing manual labor rather than gallivanting around Africa for “fun.”
But Gu Lang didn’t look good at the moment. His face and body were covered in small cuts from broken glass, and a large bruise had formed on his forehead.
“Remember, always wear your seatbelt while driving! Safety first…” Wang Ping muttered to himself with a hint of gloat, his tiny shoulders shaking slightly in amusement.
The tree wasn’t tall and was damaged where the vehicle hit it, with cracks indicating it could break at any moment. After a moment’s thought, Wang Ping gestured to Rosette, pointing to the poplar and signaling her to hit it.
Unbeknownst to him, every move was being captured by the camera. Curious, viewers watched the Buzz-Cut Bro in fascination, wondering what he was trying to do.
Rosette had been with Wang Ping long enough to understand his signals. When she didn’t fully grasp something, she simply followed his lead. Leaping onto the hood, Rosette gave the poplar a strong smack.
“Crack…”
Rosette’s strength far exceeded Wang Ping’s. With one slap, the already fragile tree snapped and, under the weight of Gu Lang, tumbled over.
“Smack!”
“Ow…”
Someone had just hit the ground face-first, groaning as he began to stir.
Gu Lang felt like his whole body was on fire. His back ached from something pressing down on it, adding to his discomfort.
He managed to roll over, gingerly pushing the fallen tree trunk off his back. Opening his eyes, he was met with a sight that triggered an overwhelming urge to relieve himself.
There, right in front of him, perched on the hood, sat a leopard and a honey badger, staring at him curiously. If Rosette made any sudden move, Gu Lang was sure he’d lose control.
Gu Lang dared not move. His body was throbbing with pain, his face and hands nicked all over from shattered glass, and his forehead throbbed. His nose was bleeding profusely from where he’d smashed into the tree and then the ground. But all of that was minor compared to the pressure of being observed by two predators.
He remained motionless, terrified that any movement might provoke a misunderstanding that would end him. Even his breathing was cautious.
Meanwhile, Wang Ping was lost in thought.
Although Rosette was obedient and seemed fond of him, she was still a wild animal, unpredictable. Her size alone made her an easy target for poachers, while he could easily hide if needed.
This guy, however, seemed vulnerable and might be of some use.
Gu Lang cautiously observed the two animals, focusing mostly on the large leopard. But as he glanced at the honey badger, he noticed something odd about its expression.
How to describe it? Gu Lang remembered that his neighbor’s husband had once looked at their family’s golden retriever with a similar gleam in his eye.
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