Otaku Translation: Honey Badger's Streaming Life C126

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Chapter 126: The Pursuit

Time trickled by, and the primeval forest at night was an entirely different world from its daytime counterpart. Even seasoned mountain folk who spent their lives in these woods would choose to camp out rather than traverse the forest after sunset—even if civilization lay just a few hours away.

The reasons were never fully explained. Elders often spoke of nocturnal creatures like owls prowling under the cover of darkness, making travel perilous. Low visibility made it easy to lose one’s way, while the suffocating blackness and eerie sounds amplified psychological strain, sometimes leading to emotional breakdowns. Some whispered about supernatural barriers—ghost walls—that trapped wanderers until dawn.

But Wang Ping had once heard a more scientific explanation from the veterinarian. Forests teemed with plants, which consumed oxygen and released carbon dioxide during nighttime respiration due to reduced photosynthesis. This lowered oxygen levels significantly, causing fatigue and mental stress for anyone traveling through. In extreme cases, hallucinations could occur.

Still, Damuge and his companion seemed determined to press on despite the encroaching darkness. They showed no intention of stopping, continuing along the riverbank instead. Perhaps the wide expanse of the river and the strong winds sweeping fresh air into the area kept the oppressive atmosphere at bay.

On the opposite bank, Gu Lang and Wang Ping followed suit. One man and one honey badger trailed roughly fifty meters behind the duo, keeping their distance but refusing to let them slip away. Neither Gu Lang nor Wang Ping was willing to give up so easily.

Setting aside the issue of poaching, Wang Ping even suspected that the bodies floating down the river earlier might be connected to the pair ahead. After all, they had been the first to escape the bear’s pursuit, whereas Gu Lang and Wang Ping had wasted precious time. Then there was Gu Lang vomiting until he nearly passed out, delaying them further by the riverside. Yet somehow, despite everything, Damuge and Naktu remained ahead.

What exactly happened during that gap? Wang Ping couldn’t shake the suspicion.

The wind howled loudly, blowing westward. It drowned out the sound of Gu Lang’s footsteps while carrying snippets of conversation between Damuge and Naktu. Unlike Gu Lang’s silent march, the two men ahead chattered incessantly.

Gu Lang, too, longed for company. Trudging through this pitch-black environment was unnerving. The ground beneath him felt unstable, cushioned by layers of decaying leaves. Shadows of trees loomed everywhere, and unseen birds or small animals would suddenly burst forth from the underbrush, startling him time and again. Unfortunately, Wang Ping couldn’t engage in conversation without risking detection. To avoid alerting Damuge and Naktu, Wang Ping forbade any self-talk from Gu Lang.

Gu Lang strongly suspected their constant chatter served as a distraction—a way to keep their minds off fear and paranoia. But at least holding Wang Ping close provided some comfort. With “Boss” tucked securely in his arms, Gu Lang felt marginally safer.

Wang Ping, however, found himself caught between frustration and necessity. If he strayed too far, Gu Lang might panic and call out pitifully into the void. Too near, and Wang Ping risked being trampled by clumsy feet or kicked into the river. As the night grew darker, Gu Lang’s attempts to follow Wang Ping became increasingly erratic—he stepped wherever Wang Ping moved, oblivious to the consequences.

After having his tail stepped on multiple times and being knocked over by Gu Lang’s flailing limbs, Wang Ping finally resigned himself to crawling into Gu Lang’s embrace, allowing the man to carry him.

After another stretch of walking, a beam of light appeared among the trees on the opposite shore. With the sky now completely dark and moonless, Damuge and Naktu had switched on a flashlight.

Gu Lang sighed enviously but dared not complain. His own flashlight had been left behind in the mountains—not that he’d dare use it anyway. First came the encounter with the bear, then the armed poachers. Though not his first brush with danger, it still left him shaken. But perhaps because of past experience, Gu Lang found the courage to continue trailing them, though he wasn’t sure what he hoped to achieve.

Wang Ping regretted not retrieving his fanny pack abandoned earlier in the trees. While he could still navigate directionally, knowing the compass points meant little without knowledge of nearby towns. And without a phone, he couldn’t contact the outside world or share his location. What if no one in the livestream reported the incident? Or worse, what if rescuers relied solely on GPS coordinates tied to his missing phone?

By now, the drone’s battery had died, and the livestream automatically reverted to the phone camera. But the screen displayed nothing but darkness, punctuated only by the rustling of leaves, the whistling wind, and occasional hoots of nocturnal birds. Amidst these ambient noises, the faint crunch of footsteps went almost unnoticed.

Bears were notorious for holding grudges, especially black bears. In the northern forests, elders always warned newcomers against provoking them. If confrontation was unavoidable, they advised eliminating every member of the bear family; otherwise, revenge would inevitably follow. These warnings weren’t mere superstition—they stemmed from countless tragic lessons etched in blood.

Yet neither Wang Ping nor Gu Lang seemed aware of such wisdom. Damuge, on the other hand, understood perfectly well, which explained his urgency to flee under the cover of night.

“Let’s rest,” Naktu panted, glancing back. “We’ve come far enough. Do you really think that beast will chase us here?”

“No!” Damuge snapped, his brow furrowed. “Under normal circumstances, we could evade it. But this time, it knows about our cargo. It won’t let us go.”

“Damn it! That Chinese guy is to blame!” Naktu cursed.

“Forget him,” Damuge said coldly. “He’ll meet the same fate as Sasgo. Don’t waste your anger on a dead man.”

“The same fate as Sasgo?” Naktu sneered. “Sasgo didn’t die by—”

“That’s enough!”

Damuge spun around abruptly, shining the flashlight directly into Naktu’s face. His voice turned icy. “Watch your tongue! Sasgo was killed by the bear. If you can’t remember that, I’ll make sure you do.”

“Fine…” Naktu raised a hand to shield his eyes, muttering reluctantly, “I understand… Uncle.”

The word uncle carried extra weight as he spat it out. Damuge let out a derisive snort, lost in thought.

Across the river, hidden behind a tree, Gu Lang crouched low, rubbing his forehead where he’d bumped it. He muttered under his breath, “Damn it, what’s wrong with you? Why shine that thing randomly?”

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