Chapter 61. Giant Panda (5)

‘What the heck is that?’

I was taken aback by a pair of eyes that glowed like flames and took a step back.

‘Knife... I need the knife first.’

As I fumbled for the knife at my waist, the gaze that had been fixed on me disappeared. It was as if the light had gone out. Had they closed their eyes?

Or...

I stopped my fearful imagination and regained my composure. I immediately drew my knife and pointed it in the direction where the eyes had been. The moment I held the knife, a small sense of confidence welled up inside me.

‘What is it?’

It was likely a wild animal, perhaps a tiger or a bear, a large predator.

However, I couldn’t just turn my back and run. Showing your back to a wild animal was as good as asking to be killed.

‘It’s not impossible to win.’

Under normal circumstances, a tiger or a bear would be an unbeatable predator for someone of my level, which was somewhere between second and third class. Even a third-class person could turn into meat with a single "nya-nya punch" from a tiger.

‘But I’ve learned the Iron Skin Technique.’

Thanks to the Iron Skin Technique, which I practiced almost every day without fail, my skin had become as tough as cowhide. I had a good chance of withstanding a "nya-nya punch." If I could seize the moment and stab with my sword...

‘Come on, then!’

I held my knife confidently and channeled my inner strength throughout my body.

...

I stood there with my knife for an hour, but nothing attacked. I quietly put the knife away.

‘This match is my victory for surviving.’

With that thought, I turned and headed toward the meeting point I had previously informed the others about. When I arrived, the two were already there waiting for me.

"Why are you so late?"

When Wijian asked with a slightly worried expression, I stiffened my face and replied.

"I was on the brink of life and death a moment ago and barely managed to return alive."

"Really? On the brink of life and death?"

"Yes. Let me explain."

I explained to them about the enormous threat I had faced. Even now, recalling it sent shivers down my spine.

After hearing my story, Pang Gui asked Wijian with a puzzled look.

"Is there a predator in the bamboo forest? What do they eat?"

"I think so too... but..."

It was a valid point. I wondered if it could have been a wild boar, but if it were a wild boar, the eyes would have been much lower.

‘Then, could it be...’

The owner of those eyes might have been the Golden Bear Cub we were looking for.

"Most likely, what I encountered was the Golden Bear Cub. Let’s hurry. It might still be nearby."

"But we haven’t even had dinner yet..."

"Instead, have this."

I offered the honey cookies I had been saving. Pang Gui, holding them, pointed to herself and Wijian and said,

"Ah, we have two mouths. Who gets this? Just give us all you have."

"There aren’t many left. These are real honey, not syrup, and they’re expensive."

"No, you should feed people and then ask them to work."

After a dramatic negotiation, we settled on seven honey cookies.

***

We split into two groups to search for the Golden Bear Cub. I was with Wijian, and Pang Gui went alone.

"If you find it, blow this whistle."

"Sure, I got it."

However, no matter how much we searched, we couldn’t find the Golden Bear Cub. Not even a trace. I wondered if I had seen something wrong or if it was just a dream.

Eventually, I decided to return when the sun was about to set.

"Let’s just go back today."

We had to return to the village without any results on the first day.

‘But, thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely fruitless.’

At least I managed to gather a bundle of bamboo shoots. Satisfied with this small achievement, I returned to the village.

Returning to the village didn’t mean I could just relax and sleep. I sent the two to the inn first and then went to the Nanxing Escort Agency branch to report that we hadn’t found it today and to check the ecology and rumors about the Golden Bear Cub.

‘Sure enough, those eyes belonged to the Golden Bear Cub.’

According to the records left at the branch, the Golden Bear Cub had golden eyes, making it easily distinguishable from other pandas even from a distance.

However, there wasn’t much more significant information. I closed the book and thought,

‘Tomorrow, I’ll search a bit deeper in that area.’

It was late by the time I returned to the inn.

***

After a fruitless first day, on the second day, I decided to search a bit deeper.

‘This area has the highest potential.’

There was a rock mountain in one corner of the bamboo forest, and it was likely that the Golden Bear Cub would be found nearby.

‘It’s said that they mainly eat stone bamboo, so they must be around there. They were also found in that area before.’

I marked the search area on the map and told the two that I expected results today.

However, contrary to my expectations, we had no significant results by late afternoon. We searched the rock mountain for a long time but couldn’t find even a single hair of the bear cub.

‘This isn’t easy.’

As the time to meet up approached, I returned and waited for a while. Soon, the two returned, fanning their foreheads.

"Phew. It’s so hot today. Where is it?"

"It’s harder to find than I thought..."

"Thank you for your hard work."

They looked a bit tired, either from the heat or the prolonged journey. I let them rest in the cool bamboo forest and thought for a moment.

‘Something seems off.’

Considering the two were high-level experts, it was strange. Moreover, pandas are territorial and don’t leave their territory easily. If the place where I first saw it was part of its territory, it was odd that we couldn’t find any traces.

‘Maybe I’m missing something.’

I thought for a moment.

I recalled the cute pandas in E○land, eating bamboo and napping in trees all day, and wondered if I was missing something...

"Ah!"

"What’s the sudden exclamation for?"

"I remembered!"

I slapped my forehead. How could I have missed such a simple thing!

I said with the look of someone who had finally found the culprit.

"The bear cub is nocturnal."

"Huh?"

That’s right. Pandas are nocturnal. Searching all day would be futile.

I now remembered hearing this from the panda explanation at E○land.

"..."

"..."

The two’s eyes narrowed. I quickly added,

"I just remembered now."

"..."

"..."

But why are you blaming me?

I just remembered. I’m not a panda expert.

But their eyes were too sharp, and I couldn’t express my frustration. To defuse the situation, I hurriedly said to them,

"Since you’ve worked hard during the day, let’s rest a bit and search again in the evening."

They seemed too tired from the heat to argue and just nodded, heading somewhere. They would probably find some shade. I also found a suitable spot and lay down.

Lying in the shade, I thought of my colleagues at the Baiyun Escort Agency.

‘I hope they’re all doing well.’

I hope they return from their missions without any problems. I’m a bit worried about the Odukmun incident.

Especially the Wujangshan Mountain Club members. They’re a concern.

‘Without martial arts, they’ll be in trouble if they encounter poison.’

So I gave them some advice. I told them to stay as close to Xiaoxian Xiao as possible during the mission. It’s safer to be near an expert in emergencies.

And since Odukmun might use gas poison, I told them to wear masks if they smell anything unusual. I hope it helps.

‘Hmm...’

Feeling a cool breeze, I soon felt sleepy. Thinking about my colleagues, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a refreshing nap.

***

When I opened my eyes, the sun hadn’t set yet. I must have slept for about an hour.

I rubbed my eyes and stretched my shoulders.

"I should start preparing dinner."

It was around 5 or 6 PM.

Since I planned to search a bit longer today, I thought it would be good to start preparing dinner. I picked up the water flask beside me, but it was almost empty.

"Oh."

I shrugged and stood up.

I needed water to cook. Remembering that there was a stream near the rock mountain, I headed there with the water flask.

Fortunately, it wasn’t far. After about ten minutes, I heard the sound of water.

*Trickle, trickle*

‘I need to hurry to prepare dinner.’

As I walked toward the water, I heard voices mixed with the sound of water.

"Phew. It’s really refreshing."

"Definitely, it was hotter today."

"That’s why. Oh, really. We wasted the whole day because of that guy."

"Don’t be too harsh. He might have forgotten."

It was Wijian and Pang Gui. Curious, I approached and peeked through a crack in the rocks. I could vaguely see the two washing themselves in the stream.

Focusing my inner strength, I listened to their conversation. They were splashing water and talking in the stream, where the water reached their waists.

"Why? Lian, you seem to be defending that guy?"

"It’s not that, it’s just... we worked hard together..."

"Seems a bit suspicious? Hmm?"

"Ah, no. Stop it. Hmm..."

Seeing the two playing in the water, I lowered my head to avoid being seen and quickly made a decision.

‘I need to run away.’

I decided to turn around and leave quickly, regardless of the water.

If this were a dreamy and hopeful isekai, there would be a scene with "Squeal! Hentai!!" "Low-quality~!" "Ah! I didn’t know you were here~!" But unfortunately, this was a martial arts world.

‘I’m going to die.’

I shuddered, imagining myself as a sealed ecchi. I really didn’t want to think about it. I quickly turned around.

Just as I was about to sneak away without making a sound,

"Ah! What’s that?!"

"Grumble... grumble..."

Hearing Pang Gui’s startled cry, I peeked through the rocks again.

‘Oh no!’

There, I saw Wijian and Pang Gui, almost fully submerged in the water, and the Golden Bear Cub we had been searching for.

A giant golden panda was pacing by the water, growling.

"Grumble... grumble..."

Seeing the Golden Bear Cub growling and rolling around, I frowned.

‘It’s so ugly.’

Despite the effort to find it, I was greatly disappointed. I couldn’t tell if it had a princess-like disposition, but it certainly didn’t belong in a zoo.

‘Why is the fur color like that?’

Moreover, the fur color was more like rotten urine, making me suspect it was a jaundiced black bear.

While I was thinking this, the two, who had left their weapons and clothes outside, were shouting and trying to scare the Golden Bear Cub away.

"Ah, really! Just when we were washing!"

"Get lost!"

However, the Golden Bear Cub ignored them, pawing and sniffing at something that looked like their clothes, and continued to pace by the water.

Seeing this, I thought for a moment.

‘What should I do?’

Although the two were experts, it was uncertain if they could handle the Golden Bear Cub without weapons. After all, it was a bear and a predator.

But if I revealed myself...

I shuddered again and decided to leave it to them and pretend I didn’t see anything. They were experts, so they would handle it.

Just then,

"Ah! Lian! Over there!!!"

"What? What is it? Why is that guy here!!!"

My head, which I had peeked through the rocks, was caught.