Chapter 79

Chapter 79

"Why does it look so much like a tabby cat?"

【Was… was that a lion just now?】

【You should be asking if the ones in front of the lion were Hang Sisi and Nie Lingyang.】

【Not bad—under Sister Lin’s influence, all the guests on Wilderness are starting to bond with the animals of the savannah.】

【Better stop bonding before you end up bonded in its stomach.】

...

Lin Qianyu quickly got up. "I’ll go see what’s going on. I’ll finish skinning later."

Being chased by a lion was no joke.

Knowing Hang Sisi’s level of courage, Lin Qianyu didn’t believe she’d provoke a lion. Seeing a male lion chasing them was honestly confusing.

And it was just one lion, not a whole pride.

"Chasing Wind?" Lin Qianyu called out as she ran, "Where are you, Chasing Wind?"

"Neigh—!"

The zebra came running from afar at the sound of her voice.

Lin Qianyu ran up, swung herself onto its back, and pointed in the direction where the lion had chased after Hang Sisi. "That way!"

Chasing Wind didn’t hesitate and broke into a full run.

Everything had happened so fast. The white lion, having calmly groomed its mane, bit down on a zebra that Lin Qianyu had already processed and headed toward the grassland wolf.

The playful cubs were nudged behind by the grassland wolf. Compared to the white lion, the wolf’s size was several times smaller—standing face to face, the difference was stark.

For a moment, it looked like a standoff.

But the white lion didn’t stay in that standoff for long. It dropped the prey and silently chased in the direction Lin Qianyu had left.

The grassland wolf, crouched low for a do-or-die lunge, paused. Its bared teeth hadn’t even had time to retract before the white lion’s figure vanished by the lakeside.

It glanced at the fresh zebra meat still dripping blood, then looked in the direction the white lion had left. The wolf cautiously didn’t make a move.

"Awoo!"

"?"

No one knew which cub started it, but it took a bite out of the zebra. The others, unwilling to be outdone, followed suit.

They weren’t hungry—they were just chewing it for fun, like gnawing on bones.

The cheetah cub circled the zebra once, then pounced from the other side, pinning the prey down and biting into its neck.

An enraged lion running wild—any animal in its path had to retreat.

Even elephant herds would turn their heads at the sight.

Hang Sisi was running so hard she was oxygen-deprived, seeing stars, and her ears were ringing. Even her own breathing didn’t feel like it belonged to her anymore.

It was truly unbearable.But she didn’t dare to stop.

Panting heavily, she couldn’t help but look back to see how close the lion was. She caught sight of an elephant herd not far away and her mind wandered... If it were Sister Qianyu being chased, she’d definitely run to the elephants for help—elephants were very friendly toward Sister Qianyu.

Then she paused and overturned her own thought. No, how could Sister Qianyu be chased by a lion? A lone lion like this—Sister Qianyu could reason with it, and the grassland wolves would protect her.

Thinking this, Hang Sisi slapped her forehead.

What’s she still thinking about at a time like this?!

She was risking her life!

Her legs felt numb and mechanical as she kept moving forward.

If Nie Lingyang hadn’t been pulling her from the front, Hang Sisi felt she would have collapsed already.

But running like this wasn’t working either—she couldn’t see the goal. Could it be that... dying from running was the only way out?

Hang Sisi felt the metallic scent of blood in her nose.

“Quick! Get up!” Nie Lingyang tugged at Hang Sisi and pushed her toward a tree. “Climb up! Hurry! Some male lions can’t climb trees—we’ll take that chance.”

Young lions and lionesses climbed trees more often than male lions.

If they were unlucky all day, maybe by luck they’d meet a male lion that couldn’t climb.

Hang Sisi reacted immediately to each command, but her limbs refused to obey as she grabbed the tree trunk. “I can’t climb trees!”

“Whether you can or not, you have to!” Nie Lingyang shouted even louder than her. “Otherwise, the lion will eat you!”

Caught off guard and chased, they had to hold on until the rescue team arrived.

At the life-and-death moment, Hang Sisi gritted her teeth and pulled herself up by the branches.

Though still uncoordinated, she at least managed to climb up crookedly.

“Roar—!”

Noticing humans climbing the tree, the lion roared angrily.

Hang Sisi gripped a branch tightly, flipped over it, swung a leg over the branch, and without hesitation reached down. “Nie Lingyang, give me your hand!”

At the moment she grabbed Nie Lingyang’s hand, Hang Sisi kicked the tree trunk and leaned back hard.

She had no strength left and had to use this method to pull Nie Lingyang up.

Once sitting on the tree, both Hang Sisi and Nie Lingyang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Roar!” The lion was one step too late, furiously pacing around the tree, seemingly looking for a good spot to leap up and drag the people down.

Hang Sisi silently curled her legs, hugging her knees close to her chest, pressing tightly against the tree trunk to keep her balance.

Nie Lingyang wiped his sweat. “Phew... that was intense.”

Hang Sisi: “...”

Really wanted to kick you.

She rested her forehead against the tree trunk, still catching her breath, looking at the lion unwilling to leave the base of the tree, and helplessly said, “What do we do now?”“It’s okay, I’ve sent a distress signal. Once the director arrives—hey?! Ahhh?!”

Nie Lingyang’s confident voice suddenly rose at the end as the lion below began trying to climb the tree, propping its upper body upright against the trunk.

Unlucky to encounter a rare male lion that could climb trees, Nie Lingyang’s face went pale. “Heavens, this is doomed. What do we do?”

Hang Sisi’s expression was also grim. She bit her lip and looked up. “Get ready to switch trees, in case it really climbs up.”

Besides switching trees, there was nothing else they could do now.

They couldn’t even rest and jump down to run again because the lion was waiting below. Unless they could land and immediately catch the rescue vehicle’s launch, otherwise it would be like jumping right into the lion’s mouth.

Nie Lingyang sighed, “Sorry for dragging you down.”

Hang Sisi shook her head. Even in this tense situation, she had the mind to joke, “I’m in this too—we’re partners in crime.”

When people get nervous, they tend to talk more. Nie Lingyang stared at the lion and couldn’t help saying, “If the director handles this, does that mean we have to withdraw from the competition?”

Hang Sisi thought her mind was already scattered enough. “...At a time like this, let’s just think about how to survive first.”

【Good grief, isn’t this like the sleeping dragon and crouching phoenix?】

【When your life’s on the line and you’re still worried about withdrawing, do you know you’re about to be kicked out of the biosphere?】

【Hahaha, save me... I can’t help laughing whenever I see this joke.】

The originally tense atmosphere was completely broken by their exchange.

But the lion below didn’t give them time to chat.

This male lion clearly wasn’t very skilled at climbing trees, but it wasn’t incapable either.

Just awkward, and slowly, the lion reduced the distance between them bit by bit.

Hang Sisi closed her eyes, forcing herself not to look. But the thought of being pulled down unaware was even scarier, so she gritted her fear and looked down.

Her heart ached, and she couldn’t help but pat the tree. “Why aren’t there trees like those on Rainforest Island here?”

If the trees were taller, they could climb higher and maybe the lion would feel it was too high and stop chasing—or at least stop climbing.

As the lion drew closer, Hang Sisi gripped the branches tightly. Suddenly, she caught sight of a zebra approaching not far away. She paused, her eyes brightening. “Qian, Sister Qianyu!”

Nie Lingyang was stunned by her words. “Is that a good idea? Getting help from others when in danger is always troublesome.”

He scratched his head and the more he thought about it, the more he agreed. “After all, this is a reality show where everyone’s out for themselves…”

His hesitant voice sounded like he was doubting himself, then after a while nodded firmly. “That’s not good.”

If they sought help, they could indeed contact Lin Qianyu via their watches or send a message in the livestream room, but who records a reality show and keeps bothering the guests for help?

Hang Sisi pointed ahead, “No, I mean Sister Qianyu is coming.”

“Ah?”

...

They hadn’t seen anyone along the way, but from afar Lin Qianyu already saw the lion circling the tree.

The zebra clearly noticed the lion too. It hesitated about whether to approach and kept looking up at Lin Qianyu repeatedly.The eye signals were too obvious, and the comments section quickly started helping translate.

【Sis, it seems like we don’t recognize this lion.】

【Are you sure you want to go, sis? It can’t just bite me to death in one bite, right?】

Lin Qianyu thought for a moment and also felt that running straight over wasn’t a good idea, so she dismounted first. “I’ll go over myself, you stay nearby and keep safe.”

Zhuifeng nodded swiftly; the fur standing up along the middle of his ears extending to his back twitched along with the movement.

Seeing Lin Qianyu head straight for the lion, the zebra couldn’t help but shrink its neck and took a few steps back.

Then, by chance, it bumped into something. Looking back, the white lion, half a head taller than it, was lowering its head and expressionlessly staring at it.

“!!!”

But the white lion had no intention to privately chat with Zhuifeng; it bypassed him to approach Lin Qianyu.

As Lin Qianyu drew closer, the lion circling under the tree also noticed.

It seemed to pause for a moment.

The lion squinted, trying to identify who had appeared before it.

Looking up again, the two humans were still up in the tree.

It failed to identify them but could confirm they were humans.

Lin Qianyu stepped forward to speak, but the lion’s gaze sharpened, “Roar—!”

With a fierce roar, the lion lunged straight forward.

Lin Qianyu’s steps paused, she retreated half a step, then rolled sideways on the spot and sat up.

The lion missed its target, its momentum not yet gone. Suddenly, the white lion appeared in front of it.

Visibly, the lion’s eyes turned panic-stricken, stunned, and fearful. “Awo, awo!”

Its front paw twisted as it tried to brake; its hind paws dug into the ground hard enough to scratch a line in the grass.

The white lion remained motionless.

Under its indifferent gaze, the yellow-brown lion stiffly approached the white lion up close—didn’t collide, but at least it stopped.

The white lion moved a paw.

The yellow-brown lion suddenly unleashed incredible strength, “Awoow awo! Awa—!”

By the end, it was practically screaming hoarsely.

Lin Qianyu: “...”

Comments: 【???】

【Ah...? Why don’t I understand this?】

【Then I, Big Beautiful, didn’t even move my eyes once. Are you scaring yourself?】

【Has this lion been beaten by the white lion? Wait, what’s with Big Beautiful?!】The lion’s tail drooped, its paws scraping away from the white lion, then it ran back to the tree.

Lin Qianyu sensed something was wrong and asked, “Do you know it?”

The white lion licked its paw, still calm and indifferent, “Hmm…”

Didn’t remember.

Well, there are so many lions on the savannah. Judging from the yellow-brown lion’s reaction, the white lion must have inadvertently left a deep impression on it?

Lin Qianyu patted the white lion’s head and casually rubbed its ears. “It seems a bit afraid of you. I’ll go talk to it, can you wait here for me?”

The yellow-brown lion widened its eyes, staring incredulously at Lin Qianyu’s hand, then couldn’t help but look at the white lion’s expression.

That fearful look was as if the white lion might explode with rage and attack at any moment.

It hesitated, retreating half a step, but seeing the two humans in the tree, it was reluctant to leave just like that.

While the yellow-brown lion was hesitating, Lin Qianyu asked again, “Is that okay?”

The white lion neither agreed nor refused but lowered its head to nuzzle her hand as a response.

Patting its furry head, Lin Qianyu walked toward the yellow-brown lion, “Hello, can we talk?”

The yellow-brown lion shrank its neck, half its face hidden by the tree.

Seeing the lion refuse communication, Lin Qianyu had no choice but to look up and ask those in the tree, “Why is it chasing you?”

Nie Lingyang wanted to come down and explain, but as soon as he stretched his leg, the lion crouching below immediately stood up, so he had to pull his leg back.

Hang Sisi said briefly, “We ate its prey.”

Nie Lingyang nodded too, “From what I guess, the lion ate half and left, then I came across a zebra that had been eaten and thought it was abandoned, so I cut some meat. Later Hang Sisi came, and I invited her to join. We planned to take some meat, but just as we started cutting, the lion came back.”

What happened next… Lin Qianyu already knew.

Previously, Nie Lingyang had also scavenged prey before—he found a zebra on his very first day here.

Nie Lingyang said, “Can I compensate it with a whole zebra? A whole one.”

“Eating your zebra was their fault. Can you make them compensate you with a zebra?” Lin Qianyu thought about it. With their strength, hunting a big zebra was difficult, but if they only cut a few pieces of meat, compensating with a whole young zebra might be reasonable?

Still, it depended on whether the lion agreed.

The yellow-brown lion seemed to just realize this, staring blankly at Lin Qianyu, “Hmm?”

It sniffed closely—human.

Not a lion… or is it a lion?

But the next moment, it hesitated and looked at the white lion, then back at Lin Qianyu, showing a bit of pity in its eyes.

So young and already lost all its fur.

Lin Qianyu: “...I’m not a lion.”

Seeing the topic was going in a strange direction, Lin Qianyu squatted down and firmly steered the conversation back, “Compensate you with a zebra, and you let them go. Deal?”

“Hmm!”Alright!

Lin Qianyu looked up at the people in the tree and asked, “The lion agreed, what do you think?”

Nie Lingyang nodded, “I have no problem. I’ll catch the zebra.”

Hang Sisi said, “Let’s do it together, more people means more help.”

“Owwoo…” The yellow-brown lion looked at Nie Lingyang and Hang Sisi with some hesitation.

The lion didn’t believe humans would keep their promise.

Lin Qianyu vouched for them, “It’s fine, they all agreed. If they don’t give you the zebra, come find me, and I’ll talk to them again.”

Upon hearing this, the yellow-brown lion said nothing more.

That meant it agreed.

Deal done, the yellow-brown lion turned and walked away.

Lin Qianyu said, “Remember to come here next time to get the zebra.”

The yellow-brown lion flicked its tail, “Roar!”

“You two come down too.” Lin Qianyu stepped back a few steps, giving them space to jump down.

The tree wasn’t very tall.

“Qianyu, thank you so much.” Hang Sisi was almost crying. Anyone chased by wild lions for so long, climbing a tree only to be stalked below, would be scared to tears.

Just now, tense as she was, she could suppress her emotions, but now that safety was confirmed, the tears just wouldn’t stop.

Lin Qianyu patted her back, “Be more careful next time.”

Hang Sisi nodded through tears.

Nie Lingyang landed, rubbing his knees, “I watched for a long time, saw no vultures at all, thought it fell from the tree again, was careless.”

Lin Qianyu said, “Maybe the lion was provoked by vultures while eating, so it chased them away after eating half. When it came back, it saw you eating its prey, of course it was angry.”

Vultures harass lions while they eat, but for some reason, lions rarely kill vultures.

This lion must have a bad temper, so it chased and fought the vultures after being harassed.

A lion that chases vultures can’t help but be angry when it sees someone eating its prey upon returning.

Anyone would be upset.

Nie Lingyang thought so too and nodded, “Indeed.”

He had been hungry all day, cooked a pot of food, ate half, went to fetch water, and came back to see someone eating it. He’d be upset too.

Lin Qianyu asked, “Need my help hunting the zebra?”

“No need, it’s just one zebra.” Nie Lingyang waved his hand, “I just need to use a little trick… set a trap.”

If he went hunting in the zebra herd alone, a zebra could kick him to death.

Lin Qianyu nodded, “Okay, then I’ll head back first. Figure out how to catch it yourselves.”"Alright, thanks, Sister Lin. You’re literally my—" Nie Lingyang’s flattery was cut off as the white lion, who had been waiting nearby for a long time, walked over and glanced at them.

Nie Lingyang immediately fell silent.

Hang Sisi’s eyes shone brightly; her fear of the beast and love for the beautiful big white cat were battling in her mind. It was hard to imagine how soft that fur must be to pet.

Seeing them suddenly quiet, Lin Qianyu led the white lion away. "Let’s go."

...

Zhuifeng was observing not far off. It was still very afraid of the white lion and now ranked its fear of the white lion equal to that of the grassland wolf pack.

But with Lin Qianyu here, it didn’t want to leave directly, so it wandered around the outer area nearby.

Neither leaving nor approaching, keeping a safe distance.

Lin Qianyu noticed Zhuifeng’s subtle sideways glances and comforted, “Don’t worry, the white lion won’t eat you.”

Zhuifeng tilted its head, feeling no comfort at all.

Lin Qianyu raised an eyebrow, “There are still two zebras at home; it only eats lamb. It doesn’t eat zebras.”

Zhuifeng: “?!”

It stared wide-eyed in shock, giving her a sideways look, mouth crooked.

[“Hahaha, Zhuifeng: If you can’t comfort, then don’t bother.”]

[“LOL, but undeniably, Zhuifeng really doesn’t seem so nervous now.”]

[“Hell jokes really work that well huh.”]

Zhuifeng wasn’t comforted, but while they were talking, the white lion came over to it. At first, it didn’t have time to be scared, and now, with delayed reaction, it seemed less afraid.

Lin Qianyu stretched lazily, “Hmm… went out to save someone, also got some exercise. Now, back to cutting meat.”

Trying to finish cleaning all the pelts today, wash them, and hang them to dry.

The earlier they dried, the sooner they could use them.

Dried pelts would clump together in strands and would need to be combed out. Without a comb, picking and combing by hand was quite troublesome.

Just as Lin Qianyu was about to mount, Zhuifeng seemed to notice something and suddenly barked, “Hui!”

“What’s moving?”

Zhuifeng didn’t answer but bent down, signaling Lin Qianyu to get on.

After Lin Qianyu sat firmly, Zhuifeng charged forward without hesitation.

The white lion followed, confused.

Before Zhuifeng stopped, Lin Qianyu spotted fuzzy paws struggling in the ground, “What animal is this?”

It looked like it had been buried headfirst in a pit but was stuck halfway, unable to go down further; its hind legs kicked wildly, and its tail thrashed hard trying to get out.

Apparently deciding this wasn’t working, it switched to pushing its hind paws on the ground, trying hard to pull itself back.

Sensing someone approaching, even trapped in the hole, it fluffed its fur fiercely, “Ha—!”Lin Qianyu’s outstretched hand paused as she looked at the animal’s markings and its not-too-long tail. “Why does it look so much like a tabby cat?”

After a moment, she said, “A grassland leopard cat?”

Author’s note: There will be an extra update during the day, muah~ letting everyone experience the joy of reading thirty thousand words in a day.

Good night, go to bed early, love you all.