Chapter 177: Cooperation
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xia Xin and Jing MO decided not to dwell on their previous topic any further. They continued their trek at the foot of the mountain, saving numerous distressed animals along the way. Just as they were about to leave, a chilling animal cry echoed from a nearby thicket.
“Do you think there are tigers around here?” Xia Xin cast a wary glance toward the source of the sound. To her surprise, she found a rare white Bengal tiger, its icy blue eyes locking onto theirs.
“Let’s keep moving,” Jing MO urged, gripping her hand. “We’re here to win the competition by doing our show, not by wrestling with something as ferocious as a tiger.”
Xia Xin was about to agree when the wolf pup in her arms wriggled free and darted toward the tiger.
“Drumstick!” she called out, having nicknamed the pup after its favorite food— chicken drumsticks.
Whatever Drumstick communicated with the tiger was beyond her, but the majestic creature lifted its head to lock eyes with Xia Xin. She didn’t need words to understand the desperate plea in the tiger’s eyes.
“Are you going there?” Jing Mo’s eyes flicked between her and the tiger, brimming with cautious skepticism.
“No,” she said, her voice tinged with unspoken tension.
When Jing MO was around, she didn’t dare to display her ability to communicate with animals. She would be a freak to others if words got out. So, Xia Xin decided to meet the tiger at night after everyone fell asleep.
“Are you sure?” Jing MO asked again.
“Better not. Even in zoos, tigers are tamed. This one is wild and potentially dangerous. I dare not to approach it.” Xia Xin explained.
Drumstick returned and relayed the tiger’s message to her. Apparently, the tiger had injured its leg and was seeking her help.
“We’ll have to come back later tonight. Tell the tiger to wait for us,” Xia Xin instructed Drumstick after pulling some food from her bag for the majestic animal.
Drumstick conveyed Xia Xin’s message, eliciting a low growl and a nod from the tiger.
“That tiger seems incredibly sentient,” Jing MO said, visibly stunned. “Is it just my imagination?”
Xia Xin grinned softly. “If you truly connect with them, you’ll find that many animals are remarkably perceptive.”
“Really?” Jing MO was intrigued.
“Let’s call it a day,” Xia Xin suggested, looking at her watch. “It’s already four in the afternoon. Let’s find something edible on our way back.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jing MO agreed.
Along the way, they gathered some bamboo shoots and wild fruits and even caught some fish from a pristine stream they found. They filled their collapsible buckets with water, designating one for drinking after boiling, two for cleaning, and one for storing the fish.
“Today’s dishes would be something lighter,” Xia Xin said.
“Better than nothing to eat in such a place,” Jing MO said.
When they returned to the camp, they found that most of their teammates were still resting. They quietly divided the water amongst themselves. Soon, Xu Zhi and Zhou Lian awoke and found them cooking. Curious, Xu Zhi went up to Xia Xin and Jing MO and saw them busy preparing food.
“Is this food fresh? Where did you find it? And this water, is it potable?” Xu Zhi bombarded Xia Xin with questions.
“The bamboo shoots were dug up, and the fish were caught in a nearby stream,” Xia Xin pointed in the direction they had come from. “Just follow the path and take the left fork. You’ll find the stream.”
“Do you have any extra buckets we can borrow?” Xu Zhi inquired eagerly.
“Sure, let me grab a couple for you,” Xia Xin said, thankful that she’d packed extra collapsible buckets.
Armed with the buckets, Xu Zhi and Zhou Lian gratefully thanked Xia Xin before heading off on their own quest for resources.
“Thank you,” Zhou Lian said, taking one of the buckets. “We’ll be on our way now..”
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