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Chapter 43: Having a Gun Makes You Tough, Huh?
Wang Ping stared in utter bewilderment as Gu Lang suddenly let out a strange cry and plummeted from the tree branch he had been perched on. The delayed sound of gunfire echoed from a forest five hundred meters to the south.
A flurry of birds erupted from the trees in all directions, their cries filling the air. A few crows squawked angrily, sounding like petty thugs whose mischief had just been interrupted—furious yet ultimately powerless.
Shit! Did Gu Lang get shot?
That was the only thought racing through Wang Ping's mind as he turned and bolted down the tree trunk.
"Roar!" The commotion startled not only Rosette but also the herd of elephants outside the woods. Elephants were intelligent creatures—something evident from their brain size. Those that had encountered poachers before understood the significance of the gunshot they'd just heard. It was a sign that the poachers were back.
Several matriarch elephants trumpeted, signaling the others to drop whatever they were doing—or rather, whatever they had in their trunks—and gather together. But don’t mistake this sudden agitation for a battle cry against the poachers. In reality, without seeing any human figures nearby, the first instinct of the herd was to flee.
As much as they grieved, no matter how long their tusks grew, they couldn’t outgrow bullets. If they didn’t run now, were they supposed to wait around to be buried alongside their fallen kin?
As Gu Lang fell from the tree, so did the tablet he’d been holding, which slipped from his grasp and went flying.
In the live stream, the audience heard the gunshot, followed by the screen flipping wildly before settling on a view of overcast skies. Raindrops began to blur the camera lens almost immediately.
"What’s going on?"
"Was that a gunshot?"
"The streamer fell!"
"Did the streamer get shot?"
"Are those poachers?"
"Damn poachers!"
"They even dare to kill people?"
"Please, don’t let anything happen!"
"Gu Lang, hold on! Help is coming!"
"Streamer, run!"
By this time, it was afternoon in Hangzhou. Some had just woken up from their afternoon naps, while most were busy at work. Among them, a group of viewers nervously monitored the small live stream on their phones or tablets, barely daring to breathe.
"Thud!"
A cup of milk tea hit the floor, shattering and spilling pearls everywhere.
At the police station, both the officers on duty and those working overtime for Gu Lang’s case—including Gu Lang’s family—were glued to the screen. His mother had her hand clamped over her mouth, trying desperately not to cry.
Meanwhile, above the camera, a grayish-black shadow streaked across the screen.
If there was one person in this forest who knew firearms and combat best, the returning poachers would rank second. The true authority here was Wang Ping—the honey badger.
While everyone else was stunned, Wang Ping remained unfazed. He leapt to the ground and rushed to Gu Lang, who lay sprawled on his back, checking him for injuries.
The most obvious wound was a bloody gash on the left side of Gu Lang’s face, caused by splinters. It looked gruesome, but upon closer inspection, Wang Ping determined it was only superficial—a mere flesh wound. The reason Gu Lang lay motionless wasn’t because of the injury; he’d simply passed out from the fall.
Thankfully, this was a primeval forest. Years of accumulated leaves and branches formed a natural cushion, and since Gu Lang hadn’t fallen from a great height, he was relatively unharmed. Had this been hard, flat ground, Wang Ping doubted Gu Lang would emerge intact.
Wang Ping leaned over and gently slapped Gu Lang’s face. No response.
Damn it! Wake up! This is life or death!
Anxious, Wang Pink increased the force of his slaps. At the same time, Rosette jumped down from the tree and stood behind Wang Ping, growling lowly toward the depths of the forest.
Back in the live stream, viewers saw another figure dart across the screen. Unlike the previous shadowy silhouette, this time everyone could clearly make out the golden fur marked with black spots.
The chat exploded with reactions. Far away in Hangzhou, Gu Lang’s mother finally broke down in tears. With guns ahead and a leopard behind, it seemed hopeless. However, some familiar with Gu Lang and previous streams began recalling an unusual duo.
"Is it them?" many wondered.
"Roar..." Rosette suddenly started roaring toward the south, her short fur bristling. Wang Ping faintly heard the sound of footsteps approaching through the underbrush—not just from the south but also from the north, and more than one set.
Oh crap! Can you pull yourself together already? Wake up!
Desperate, Wang Ping climbed onto Gu Lang’s chest and pressed down hard with his front paws. Seeing this strange behavior, Rosette recalled a similar incident in the off-road vehicle and mimicked Wang Ping, jumping onto Gu Lang and pressing down with her paws.
"Ow... cough, cough..."
Rosette’s action worked instantly. With just one press, Gu Lang exhaled a long breath and regained consciousness.
"Oh fuck... I think I broke my back..."
The sound of his voice brought relief to the live stream audience. Several wealthy viewers, caught up in the tension, sent another wave of gifts. Planes and rockets lit up the screen, expressing everyone’s pent-up emotions.
Shaking his head, Gu Lang sat up, wincing as the pain in his cheek hit him. He reached up to touch his face and found it covered in blood, mingling with the rainwater dripping down his neck. It stung slightly.
"What just happened?"
Only then did Gu Lang fully process what had occurred. Meanwhile, Wang Ping had already climbed onto Rosette’s back, ready to flee.
"Poachers!"
The word flashed in Gu Lang’s mind, but there was no time to ponder why they were here or why they targeted him. The sound of footsteps crunching through the undergrowth was growing louder—someone was closing in.
Turning, Gu Lang spotted the fallen tablet in the bushes. He grabbed it and prepared to run in the opposite direction of the approaching footsteps.
You idiot! You’re running the wrong way!
Wang Ping patted Rosette’s neck as they passed Gu Lang, giving him another slap for good measure. Then, he led the way eastward, toward the campsite.
Running straight out of the forest would be suicide. The only direction without signs of human presence was east, suggesting the poachers had circled around the herd from the volcanic crater to ambush them. But how did they know Gu Lang was here? And why attack him directly?
Rosette bounded gracefully through the forest, her injured hind legs seemingly healed enough to move freely. Wang Ping glanced back occasionally, lost in thought. What he saw nearly made him lose his temper despite the dire situation.
Gu Lang, panicking, ran blindly without attempting to conceal his tracks. His path left clear imprints in the leaf litter and broken branches scattered behind him.
"Fine, I’ll deal with it..."
After all, Gu Lang was just an ordinary civilian with no training. Wang Ping couldn’t expect him to move with the agility of a seasoned operative, could he?
But amidst their frantic escape, both Wang Ping and Gu Lang forgot one crucial detail: the live stream was still on.
At that moment, everyone watching the live stream witnessed a surreal scene. A honey badger rode atop a leopard, weaving through the forest, occasionally glancing back with a scowl that suggested he was about to curse someone out. Behind them, the streamer’s shaky camera followed like a war correspondent, capturing every moment.
Before anyone could marvel at the absurdity, another gunshot rang out in the live stream.
A fresh spray of wood chips exploded from a tree Gu Lang had just passed, sending branches and leaves trembling violently. One stray twig struck Gu Lang’s rear end, causing him to clench involuntarily as a chill ran up his spine.
Clearly, the pursuers were gaining on them—and they were specifically targeting Gu Lang.
Damn bastards! Having a gun makes you tough, huh? Think you can keep this up forever? Wang Ping muttered darkly, a surge of anger rising within him.
We’ve been looking for you! Since you refuse to leave quietly, then don’t bother leaving at all!
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