The furious roar of the Blind Bear echoed from behind Luo He's head.
Luo He was running with the wind, freedom his only direction.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the red panda was also fleeing, but in a completely different direction.
The red panda darted deep into the forest, its fluffy red tail bouncing with each step.
Seeing how decisively the red panda had bolted, Luo He felt a mix of emotions.
The feeling was inexplicable, but Luo He didn't have time to dwell on such details.
For a forest ranger, agility was key.
This was especially true for rangers without contracted Beast Pets. In times of danger, all they could rely on were their own two legs.
In this critical moment, Luo He tapped into the strength he had honed over his two and a half years as a forest ranger.
In a flash, he vaulted over a massive fallen tree covered in vines. Turning his head, his heart nearly stopped.
Not only had he failed to put distance between himself and the Blind Bear, but the bear was actually gaining on him!
The black bear was charging on all fours, its powerful frame smashing through the undergrowth. Its roars were thunderous, and its drool-drenched teeth tore through the web-like vines.
Luo He wished he could transform into the protagonist of a certain syrup commercial and demand, "Why are you chasing me?"
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his heart sank.
Could it be that the Blind Bear was the true owner of the snake fruit tree?
Surely my luck isn't that bad... right?
"Not having a Beast Pet is really making this difficult," Luo He thought as he sprinted. "Once I get down the mountain, the first thing I need to do is contract a Beast Pet!"
Just as the Blind Bear was about to overtake him on a curve, Luo He steeled himself, ready to play his trump card. But then, the situation changed again.
The red panda, which had so decisively fled earlier, had actually turned back and reappeared in Luo He's line of sight!
By now, they had reached an open area of the mountain range. The dark clouds that had once obscured the sky had dispersed without notice.
Sunlight bathed the red panda's reddish-brown body, making it look like a golden, chubby orange cat.
Both the Blind Bear and Luo He were momentarily stunned, for a simple reason: in the red panda's paws was a massive beehive.
Luo He instinctively stopped in his tracks, swallowing hard as he muttered in disbelief, "A killer bee hive?"
When it came to the most fearsome creatures in the Yunling Mountains, killer bees were undoubtedly near the top of the list.
Killer bees always moved in swarms, and their sheer numbers made them a formidable force, even against a Blind Bear.
While killer bee honey was a rare and prized ingredient, most Beast Pets in the Yunling Mountains knew better than to risk their lives for a taste.
But this red panda had the guts to raid the killer bees' nest?
The Blind Bear, seemingly intimidated, hesitated.
"Ying!" The red panda took a step toward the Blind Bear, still clutching the hive.
The Blind Bear immediately took two steps back.
Seeing this, Luo He couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"
This wasn't just a beehive—it was a strategic weapon of mass destruction!
The red panda looked like it was ready to go down with the ship, and the Blind Bear, with its scarred face, broke out in a cold sweat: "Roar..."
Little buddy, let's talk this out...
The red panda glanced back at Luo He.
Luo He was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood, feeling deeply moved.
It came back to save me, all on its own.
Not bad for a friendship built on two red snake fruits!
As the standoff continued, dark clouds began to gather once more.
Luo He looked up at the sky and muttered, "What's going on now?"
The Blind Bear's pupils contracted, reflecting the overwhelming "dark clouds" approaching.
It was a swarm of killer bees.
Killer bees had yellow-and-black striped bodies and venomous stingers on their tails. They were a terror to both Beast Pets and forest rangers alike.
According to "The Forest Ranger's Survival Manual and 101 Ways to Die," when faced with a swarm of killer bees, you either lit a special smoke pellet to drive them away with thick smoke...
Or you simply prayed for the best.
The swarm of bees descended like a dark, oppressive cloud, their collective buzzing creating a deafening roar. Like tiny fighter jets, they began their dive, their crimson compound eyes fixed on the hive in the red panda's paws.
Luo He's eye twitched.
I thought you were bringing reinforcements, but instead, you've brought an even bigger problem.
Oh well... Luo He glanced at the red panda standing in front of him... I'll find the right moment to make a run for it with this little guy!
At the critical moment, the red panda let out a loud "Ying!" and hurled the hive straight at the Blind Bear's face.
The Blind Bear's eyes narrowed as it swung its massive paw. The sheer force of the blow created a gust of wind, and with a loud "crack," the hive was shattered.
The sweet scent of honey instantly filled the air. Even from a distance, Luo He could smell it, and it was intoxicating, like drinking mead. A look of awe flashed in his eyes.
If I could use this honey in my cooking, it would take my dishes to a whole new level!
The Blind Bear was also momentarily stunned. It looked down at its honey-covered paw and, unable to resist, licked it.
After a moment of contemplation, the Blind Bear began licking its paw in earnest.
Just one more lick... just one...
This scene enraged the killer bee swarm, and they buzzed in collective protest.
Uncle can tolerate this, but Auntie cannot!
Brothers, sting it!
The swarm descended on the Blind Bear like a storm. But the Blind Bear, caught in the eye of the storm, showed its formidable strength.
With a roar, the black bear stomped the ground, unleashing a ring of earthy yellow energy that sent several meters of dirt flying into the air.
Luo He recognized this move—it was an earth-type Beast Pet skill called "Earthquake."
Beast Pets could harness extraordinary powers through such skills, which was what made them so formidable.
The black tide of bees briefly parted, but the gap was quickly filled again.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Luo He quickly waved to the red panda.
This is no place to stick around—let's get out of here!
Since the red panda still had traces of honey on it, several killer bees followed closely behind them, relentless in their pursuit.
The man and the red panda ran for their lives. Luo He, looking at the red panda's fluffy tail ahead of him, shouted, "Can't you handle just a few killer bees?"
That Blind Bear just swatted a bunch of them like flies!
The red panda, running on all fours, glanced back and nearly raised its paws in surrender: "Ying ying!"
You call this "just a few"?
"Alright, time to use my trump card," Luo He said. "Run toward me!"
The red panda followed Luo He as he ran.
Guided by the experienced forest ranger, they soon reached a mountain stream.
"Can you swim?" Luo He asked, glancing at the red panda.
The red panda paused, stood up on its hind legs, and shook its head.
"It's easy. I jump, you jump!"
Luo He picked up the bewildered red panda and reenacted the classic scene from Titanic.
Taking a deep breath, he leaped into the stream.
Never underestimate a forest ranger's survival skills... especially when that ranger is also a gourmet chef!
Luo He had grown up in a village, so skills like jumping into rivers and fishing were second nature to him.
After becoming a chef capable of preparing state banquet-level dishes, he often ventured into the wild to gather the finest ingredients. Climbing mountains and diving into seas were all part of the job.
As a child, Luo He's idol had been Bear Grylls, famous for his Man vs. Wild TV show.
Though he hadn't become a survival show host, becoming a gourmet chef was still somewhat influenced by his idol.
The clear water grew closer, and Luo He could even see the fish darting away in fright.
Despite the urgency, Luo He felt a hint of pride.
Falling into the river—this is my survival tactic!
...
Downstream, the water was crystal clear.
The pebbles on the shallow bank shimmered in the sunlight, and the reeds along the shore swayed in the breeze.
After the dawn of the supernatural era, reeds had spread rapidly due to their reproductive capabilities, becoming widespread across the globe.
In any open area with a water source, you could find patches of reeds... and a creature known as the "reed chicken."
Reed chickens resembled domestic chickens, with red single combs and feathers that were either gray or white. They often lived near water sources with reeds, feeding on shrimp, fish, crabs, grass seeds, and reed flowers.
Generally, reed chickens couldn't enter the supernatural realm, and an ordinary forest ranger could easily take one down bare-handed.
Reed chickens were well-proportioned, with strong muscles, tender meat, and a firm texture.
Found all over the world, they were a highly praised ingredient.
The afternoon sun was warm and lazy. A snow-white reed chicken, with an air of arrogance, stood on a moss-covered rock surrounded by reed flowers, eyeing the two "uninvited guests."
The two drenched guests were none other than Luo He and the red panda, who had fled all the way from upstream.
Luo He rolled up his pant legs, his feet submerged in the shallow water. He took off his shirt, wrung it out, and looked over at the red panda.
"Are you okay?"
The round-faced red panda's reddish-brown fur was completely soaked. It stood on its hind legs like Luo He, stuck out its tongue, and nodded.
"Good," Luo He said with a smile. "We should be safe now."
The red panda, still shaken, glanced back in the direction they had come from, then let out a relieved sigh and grinned: "Ying!"
Luo He looked at the red panda, recalling the description from The Forest Ranger's Survival Manual.
Red pandas often stuck out their tongues to appear cute.
But this was actually a way for them to gather information about their surroundings and detect potential threats.
Similarly, their habit of standing on their hind legs and raising their paws wasn't just for show—it was a warning to enemies.
Of course, if you were easy to bully, your warnings would only come across as "adorable."
Luo He smiled, grabbed the red panda by the scruff of its neck, and hauled it onto the shore.
The red panda shook its fur and tail, splashing water all over Luo He.
"Even though we just met, you came back to save me, and for that, I'm grateful."
Luo He spoke earnestly, whether or not the red panda could understand him.
"Thank you, Instant Noodles!"
The red panda froze, then waved its paw cheerfully: "Ying~"
No need to thank me—we're friends!
Luo He had taken a liking to this brave and polite red panda.
The chase had also drained a lot of their energy, so Luo He looked around, planning to start a fire and cook something to show off his skills.
"The Blind Bear probably won't catch up to us here," Luo He thought. "But if we want to make it down the mountain before dark, we'll need to replenish our energy first."
Finally, his gaze landed on the reed chicken by the reeds.
Luo He: "..."
My chef senses are tingling!
After explaining his plan to the red panda, Luo He slowly approached the reed chicken. He pulled out the remaining red snake fruit from his pocket and said with a cheerful smile:
"Don't be afraid. I'm not a good person."
The reed chicken was puzzled but couldn't resist the temptation of the red snake fruit. It pecked at the fruit.
The young reed chicken didn't yet know that the gifts of fate always come with a price.
"Now!" Luo He commanded.
A shadow appeared behind the reed chicken, its eyes glowing red.
It was the red panda, who swung its paw and knocked the reed chicken out cold!
Looking at the unconscious reed chicken, Luo He swallowed hard.
So tempting... I mean... so cruel.
...
(End of Chapter)