Otaku Translation: Honey Badger's Streaming Life C114

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Chapter 114: A Beneficial Bird? Heh!

The sun dipped behind the ridge, beginning its descent toward the southwest. Shadows from the mountains crept over the valley, and a cool breeze carried the mist rising from a nearby pool, sending shivers through anyone who lingered in its path.

In the woods east of the pool, the rustling of leaves grew louder as voices approached—first faintly, then clearer with each step.

To the north, hidden behind a cluster of tall mugwort, Wang Ping crouched atop a protruding rock. His small ears twitched as he listened intently, his brows furrowing on his furry face at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Who's Gu Lang hanging out with now?" he muttered under his breath.

"Brother, you're damn lucky to have escaped that black bear alive!" A gruff but hearty voice cut through the air, carrying an earnest charm that made it hard not to like him.

Wang Ping shook his head behind the bushes, sighing inwardly at how naive mountain folk could be. No need to guess; knowing Gu Lang’s tendency to forget pain once healed, there was no doubt he'd already started spinning some outrageous tale.

"When will we reach the foot of the mountain, Uncle Damuge?" Gu Lang’s voice came again, tinged with melancholy.

This trip into the Greater Khingan Mountains had originally been for live streaming—a cover-up for last night's embarrassing "sleep-driving" incident. But now, without his equipment and lost somewhere deep in the wilderness, Gu Lang had long abandoned his original purpose. For once showing rare wisdom, he decided it would be best to get down the mountain first before making any further plans.

"Hehe, the base of the mountain? We’re almost there!" The man named Damuge sounded disinterested, offering only a curt reply before falling silent again.

Listening closely, Wang Ping picked up uneven footsteps approaching. It wasn’t hard to deduce there were more than two people. Yet oddly enough, only Gu Lang and Damuge exchanged words while the others remained quiet.

They stopped by the pool, clearly intending to rest. Pointing westward where a river flowed out of the pool, Damuge said, "See that? Follow this river downhill, and we’ll make it."

"Oh, good!" Relieved to finally have a clear direction, Gu Lang sighed, walked over to splash water on his face, drank a few handfuls, and plopped down onto the ground.

"By the way, Uncle Damuge..." Gu Lang suddenly turned back to the group of three trailing behind him.

The trio whispered amongst themselves until they noticed Gu Lang staring. Two young men flanking Damuge tensed visibly, their faces shifting uneasily. Damuge casually blocked them from view and smiled warmly. "What is it, brother?"

Gu Lang didn’t notice their discomfort. Instead, curiosity lit his eyes. "That slope we came down earlier—is it natural? How can such a strange place exist deep in these woods?"

"Oh, you mean that?" Damuge stepped closer, squatting beside Gu Lang as he filled his canteen. "That’s no natural formation. Back when those ‘little devils’ occupied Northeast China, they built logging camps here. Once they were driven out, the camp was abandoned. There used to be wooden houses below the slope where ginseng hunters would stay overnight if they couldn’t descend in time. But ghiseng hunting isn’t profitable anymore, so everything’s gone now."

"Ah, I see!" Gu Lang nodded thoughtfully, then casually added, "Uncle, what do you do exactly? Your gear looks heavy, and… what’s that strange smell?"

The conversation paused briefly. Damuge mumbled something indistinct before breaking into a smile. "We’re just gathering mountain goods. You know how dirt clings to things—it gives off that earthy scent."

Meanwhile, Wang Ping squatted low, trembling paws clutching freshly plucked mugwort leaves. He held them gingerly beneath his tail, his furry face scrunching with effort. Listening to the distant chatter, something about the whole scene felt... off.

After fumbling around for a while, Wang Ping relaxed his features, trying desperately not to look at whatever unspeakable mess lay behind him. With short legs pumping, he quietly crept toward the pool.

Back under the Manchurian ash tree where he’d stashed the waist pack, Wang Ping retrieved it stealthily, hiding it in the grass. Then, keeping low, he tiptoed closer to eavesdrop.

On the eastern bank of the pool stood four figures: Gu Lang and three others clad in camouflage jackets, jeans, and hiking boots—the quintessential Northeastern cowboys. Damuge continued whispering to Gu Lang while the two younger men rummaged through three large baskets. Their gazes darted nervously toward Gu Lang every so often.

"These three… something doesn’t feel right," Wang Ping thought, reconsidering his plan to join Gu Lang immediately. Just then, a faint metallic tang wafted through the air, accompanied by a familiar scent. Instinctively wrinkling his nose, Wang Ping narrowed his eyes at the baskets.

"Heh, mountain goods? Goods that can’t see the light of day, perhaps?"

It seemed either Gu Lang had some cosmic glitch in his fate or karma was punishing him for being too flashy. Ever since Wang Ping met him, Gu Lang seemed magnetically drawn to poachers.

Sighing deeply, Wang Ping slunk back into the bushes, retrieved the waist pack, and prepared to circle around for a better vantage point. As he moved, a flutter of wings above drew his attention. A woodpecker perched on a branch, peering down at him.

"Ki~~ki~~"

Wang Ping froze. Why does this bird look so familiar?

The sound caught the attention of those by the pool too. They looked up curiously.

"Uncle, what kind of bird is that? Its call sounds... peculiar." Gu Lang asked.

"That’s a woodpecker," Damuge replied, seeing Gu Lang’s puzzled expression. Smiling, he elaborated, "Also known as a 'tree doctor.'"

"A woodpecker?" Gu Lang brightened. "Oh, I know! They’re beneficial birds—they eat insects from trees!"

"Ciao~#%#!" One of the young men behind Gu Lang snorted derisively, muttering something dismissive.

Before Gu Lang could turn around, Damuge clapped him on the shoulder, laughing loudly. "Young man, books lie. This bird isn’t all that noble. It pecks holes in bark to stash food. Those dead trees riddled with holes? All thanks to this pest."

"What? Really?" Gu Lang looked utterly bewildered, his worldview crumbling.

"And that’s not even the worst part!" Damuge chuckled. "It holds grudges. Cross it, and it’ll haunt you, waiting for the perfect moment to peck your head."

At that moment, Wang Ping glared daggers at the woodpecker overhead.

"I’ve done nothing to you, yet you keep staring me down? You want trouble? Fine, come at me—I dare you!"

"Ki~~ki~~"

The woodpecker screeched defiantly, spreading its wings and opening its sharp beak, ready to fight.

"Alright, alright! Not now—I’m busy!" Wang Ping growled, shaking his head. Thoughts of Gu Lang chatting obliviously with potential criminals weighed heavily on his mind. For now, discretion was key.

"Kiki~~"

But the bird wasn’t having it. Seeing Wang Ping turn away, it dove sharply, aiming straight for the furry back of his head.

Wang Ping’s ears swiveled backward, catching the rush of wind. Fury surged within him.

"Seriously? That’s how it’s gonna be?"

As the woodpecker closed in, Wang Ping spun around mid-leap, swiping viciously. His claws connected squarely with the bird’s wing.

"Ki~!!"

A flurry of feathers erupted from the bushes as the woodpecker shrieked and flailed wildly. The commotion echoed far and wide.

By the pool, silence fell abruptly.

Damuge squinted toward the disturbance, then instructed one of the young men with a nod. The young man gripped the knife at his waist and pushed through the foliage, heading directly for Wang Ping’s position.

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