After running about fifty or sixty meters, the anesthesia started to take effect. The civet cat's movements became noticeably less agile. The cunning creature managed to launch itself into a pond, swam across, and struggled to climb onto the rocks by the shore. After a few more steps, it collapsed onto the ground, motionless.
Just as Liu Shiqing and the rest were about to wade through the pond to capture the civet cat, another slightly bigger one emerged from the nearby bushes. It picked up the fallen one with its mouth, did a quick turn, and zipped away, disappearing from sight.
Liu Shiqing stomped his feet in frustration, but Uncle Sun said, "It's alright. The civet cat that came to the rescue and the one we shot are probably mates. If they could meet here, it means that their den must be nearby. If we search, we might be able to capture their entire family."
