Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Chapter 33: The Silent Night
About twenty meters east of the base, in a grove of trees, stood an ancient banyan tree with a sprawling canopy. Beneath it lay thick layers of fallen leaves and patches of shrubs that formed a dense undergrowth. Years of accumulated leaves made the ground uneven, each step sinking unpredictably into the soft earth. If one were to dig beneath the decaying humus, they would uncover a writhing mass of insects sure to elicit screams.
At this moment, Gu Lang leaned against the massive trunk of the banyan tree, his rear planted firmly on the pile of leaves, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Ping and Rosette.
Wang Ping could feel the weight of his stare—Gu Lang’s eyes held no pretense of subtlety. And it wasn’t just him. Even Rosette felt it, glaring back at him with irritation after catching his unrelenting gaze several times.
Compared to Rosette’s “guilt-free” demeanor, Wang Ping felt a bit awkward. Many of Gu Lang’s injuries could have been avoided. For instance, the large bump on the back of his head? That happened when Wang Ping drove over a mound without slowing down, causing Gu Lang to hit his head on the rear doorframe. Then there was the bruised needle mark on his arm, which Wang Ping had inflicted earlier that day. Perhaps if he hadn’t been so forceful, it wouldn’t have been as bad. It might even have hit bone, judging by how crooked the needle came out.
Of course, most of the smaller wounds were Rosette’s doing, though Wang Ping bore some responsibility for poor direction. Take, for example, the initial dragging of Gu Lang from the tent to the car—a process that left Gu Lang’s back, thighs, and buttocks riddled with scrapes and cuts from sharp stones and thorns scattered across the grass.
And due to the fever, Gu Lang’s skin was hypersensitive; even minor bumps resulted in large bruises. To say nothing of the countless collisions along the way. If he were to strip off his clothes now, the expanse of purple and blue splotches might easily be mistaken for tattoos belonging to some underworld boss.
Only Gu Lang himself knew what thoughts swirled through his mind at this moment.
Though he appeared unconscious throughout the journey, upon regaining clarity, fragments of memory lingered hazily in his mind. He vaguely recalled Rosette dragging him into the vehicle and Wang Ping feeding him something. But at the time, his brain was foggy, his body numb, making him think it was all part of a dream.
Moreover, this clearly wasn’t the same location where he’d pitched his tent. He remembered distinctly that there wasn’t such a vast forest nearby. So how did he end up here? Surely not because some kind-hearted person drove him here?
He couldn’t confirm much, but one thing was certain—if humans had intervened, these two creatures before him wouldn’t still be present.
“Saved by two animals, huh?” Gu Lang thought bitterly, unsure of what decision to make next.
Gu Lang had always believed escaping wouldn’t be too difficult. After all, when it came to cunning and deception, animals were no match for humans. What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was the sudden onset of high fever. Even less expected was Wang Ping saving him—a supposed “hostage.”
“Forget it,” Gu Lang mused silently. “These two aren’t exactly thriving either. Escaping the circus, they probably don’t even know how to survive in the wild. If I get the chance, maybe I should find a way to send them to a zoo. At least they’ll be fed, housed, and won’t have to work.”
Smack!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the otherwise silent woods.
Wang Ping and Rosette turned their heads to see Gu Lang, his hand pressed against his face, visibly irritated. Whether it was the fur shielding them or some innate predatory aura, Gu Lang noticed that mosquitoes rarely ventured near the pair. In stark contrast, every mosquito within miles seemed drawn to him.
In mere moments, his hands and face erupted in swollen bites, pushing him to the brink of frustration. If he had to spend the entire night like this, Gu Lang feared he’d be drained dry by morning.
Thud.
A broken branch, adorned with a few pale purple wildflowers, landed at Gu Lang’s feet. His limited knowledge failed to recognize it as Pelargonium citrosa, commonly known as mosquito-repellent geranium, abundant in South Africa.
Pelargonium citrosa, a shrub-like plant, grew abundantly in the nearby bushes. The reason mosquitoes avoided Wang Ping and Rosette wasn’t due to any mystical aura but rather the natural repellent properties of the plants surrounding them.
Gu Lang picked up the branch, mistaking Wang Ping’s gesture as a suggestion to use it to swat away mosquitoes. He began waving it around like a fan.
“Idiot,” muttered Wang Ping, turning his head away in exasperation.
Each of the three—except Rosette—had their own thoughts. After hiding for nearly two hours, during which Rosette started dozing off, the base remained eerily quiet. Clearly, whoever they were avoiding wasn’t headed this way.
By now, the first hints of dawn painted the horizon. The forest became clearer, revealing its details.
A strange "gurgling" noise broke the silence. Wang Ping turned to see Gu Lang’s embarrassed expression.
“Uh…” Gu Lang chuckled nervously, pointing to his stomach. “I’m hungry…”
Hungry? Then just cook something! Wang Ping shrugged his tiny shoulders, leaving Gu Lang baffled.
Gently patting Rosette’s head, Wang Ping stood up, brushed off dirt and grass clippings, and pushed through the bushes, heading toward the open field.
As birdsong gradually filled the air, accompanied by the distant snapping of branches carried by the wind, Gu Lang couldn’t shake an unsettling feeling. Watching Wang Ping walk away, he felt as though unseen eyes lingered behind him.
Unable to stay under the tree any longer, Gu Lang tossed aside the makeshift fan and, despite his aching body, hurried after Wang Ping. Left alone under the tree, Rosette glanced lazily at the retreating figures before resuming her nap.
Wang Ping took a curved path, avoiding the parked car in the clearing.
Behind him, Gu Lang spotted a small dark lump on the ground near the vehicle. His expression shifted uncomfortably as he scooped up a handful of leaves and covered the object. Without tools, digging a hole to bury it properly was impossible.
Wang Ping was hungry too.
While Gu Lang had been fed intermittently during their journey, Wang Ping hadn’t eaten much at all. The beef jerky he’d brought was long gone, digested into oblivion.
Inside the backpack in the car were only a few crumbled instant noodle packets and cans of food reduced to mush. Nothing else remained.
Dawn approached swiftly. On the horizon, dark clouds were edged with gold, hinting at possible rain later in the day.
Gu Lang surveyed the base for the first time since waking up. The artificial structure was unmistakable—a sand-covered courtyard surrounded by clear signs of human activity. Yet, looking around, it didn’t resemble a typical village. Instead, it reminded him of the watchman’s cabin he’d seen deep in the mountains during his childhood.
Wang Ping had no interest in the remaining food in the backpack. Ignoring Gu Lang, who was now mobile again, he headed toward the riverbank, hoping to catch a fish.
Gu Lang entered the northern guard dormitory. From the clearing, Wang Ping heard his startled cry, tinged with excitement. Clearly, he’d discovered medical supplies in the infirmary.
About 200 meters northwest of the base lay a small lake, roughly a hundred meters long and less than fifty meters wide. Surrounding it was a sea of gravel and overgrown weeds. The rivers flowing past created a natural buffer zone. The lake’s surface shimmered emerald green, thanks to the lush aquatic vegetation below. Animals often came here to drink, and occasionally, hippos wandered in from distant swamps to bathe, much to the annoyance of other creatures.
When Wang Ping arrived, no hippos were in sight, but a group of wildebeests drank on the opposite bank. Upon noticing Wang Ping, they hesitated briefly, contemplating retreat. However, with fifty meters of water separating them, they quickly dismissed the threat and resumed drinking.
Feeling somewhat content, Wang Ping gazed down at the lake. The water reflected the image of a honey badger.
Unaccustomed to seeing his reflection, Wang Ping blinked awkwardly, then extended his paw, stirring the water until it clouded. He submerged his claw into the underwater vegetation, waiting patiently.
“Perhaps I should catch a worm and use it as bait on my claw?”
Lost in thought, Wang Ping watched the rising sun, his mind drifting aimlessly.
Please vote for this novel at
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
No comments:
Post a Comment