Chapter 14: The Lonely Panda and the Wolf Pack

The little panda’s fur was matted and dripping with water, looking utterly pathetic. It lifted its head, seemingly trying to shake its body to dry off. But it was too weak; as soon as it moved, its paws failed to grip the slick bamboo stalk, and it tumbled down.

“Ying!”

The little panda let out a sharp cry of pain.

Lin Mo reached out her arms to catch it, but she could only watch as the panda’s body passed right through her palms like a phantom.

Soaked and covered in a layer of fallen leaves, the little panda slowly picked itself up from the ground. It crawled over to a protruding dark rock and sat down. Soon, a fresh puddle of water formed on the surface of the obsidian stone.

Lin Mo’s heart ached. This silly little bear… why doesn’t it find a warm place to sit?

She followed it, only to find the panda with its back turned to her, meticulously licking its dirty, tangled fur. Even in this state, it was a clean little thing.

However, she noticed something was wrong. The panda’s eyes, usually as bright as stars, were now dim. It lay motionless on the rock. Is it sick? Will it be okay? Lin Mo circled the rock anxiously until she realized the panda had fallen into a fitful sleep. It shivered, its tiny paws clenched into fists, making soft “ying ying” whimpering sounds.

This can’t go on. The rock is too cold, Lin Mo thought. Looking at the fallen bamboo leaves on the ground, she wondered if she could use them for warmth. As if sensing her intent, the leaves swirled up from the ground, forming a large sphere that wrapped snugly around the little panda, insulating it from the chill.

Relieved, Lin Mo sat down beside the bundle to keep watch.

Time passed in a blur. When Lin Mo next looked up, the little panda was gone, and the single bamboo stalk had grown into a small grove. She stood up and spotted the panda hiding behind a rock, peeking at something.

Lin Mo followed its gaze. Near the bamboo grove, a middle-aged couple was cooking a meal while a three-year-old child chased butterflies nearby. They were full of smiles, patiently feeding the child.

Looking at the panda’s glistening eyes, Lin Mo understood: it missed its parents. How did it end up all alone here? She couldn’t know, so she simply watched the family alongside the bear.

Once the child was full and sleeping in the mother’s arms, the woman prepared to eat. But her husband took the bowl first. “You spent all that time feeding the cub, you didn’t get a chance to eat. Let me feed you.”

The woman gave him a playful look but took a bite. Then she fed him in return. “You too—you’ve worked hard, eat more.” They both shared a sweet, lingering smile.

The little panda blinked, a look of deep thought crossing its face.

Lin Mo had a sudden epiphany. Is this how Mo Jin learned about feeding others? The soup-feeding last night wasn’t about “fattening her up”—it was Mo Jin’s way of expressing closeness and friendship. Good thing Mo Jin can’t read my mind, or she’d be furious, Lin Mo thought sheepishly.

After the family left, the little panda slowly approached and picked up a discarded wooden bowl. Some cold dregs of soup remained at the bottom. It hesitated, then dipped a paw in and licked it with a pale pink tongue.

The next second, the panda was spitting frantically on the ground, throwing the wooden bowl aside in disgust. Lin Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I told you not to eat leftovers!

The panda looked around, searching for something. Lin Mo held her breath. Does it know I’m here? But there was only the rustle of bamboo in the wind. Confused, the panda shook its head and sat back down against the central bamboo, picking up a fresh shoot to munch on.

The scene shifted abruptly.

A pack of wolf-headed humanoids marched aggressively into the valley, weapons in hand. Lin Mo stepped back, seeing the little panda stand tall, eyes burning with a fierce fire.

“Run, you silly bear! You can’t win!” Lin Mo shouted, though she knew it couldn’t hear.

“Big brother, that’s the one that hit me! My head still hurts!” a grey wolf snarled, its claws digging into the dirt as it crouched to pounce.

The lead white wolf remained silent. Another grey wolf stepped forward, shouting, “Little bear, this land is ours now. If you’re smart, leave. Our boss doesn’t want to waste time on a kid.”

The little panda didn’t flinch. Instead, it thumped its chest with its paws.

This act of defiance enraged the pack. The white wolf let out a threatening howl, and the others joined in, closing a tight, suffocating circle around the panda.

Lin Mo’s heart hammered against her ribs. Why won’t it run? There’s no shame in escaping to fight another day!

The panda took a half-step back. Yes, turn and run! Lin Mo hoped.

Instead, the panda bent down, hoisted a massive boulder from the ground, and hurled it at the pack. The rock flew with incredible speed, crushing the legs of two wolves who let out agonized howls.

Lin Mo was stunned. The little guy is strong!

But the wolves were trained. They immediately dispersed into a strategic formation, closing in methodically. The panda was fast and accurate, taking down three more with rocks, but the pack was too large.

The lead white wolf’s eyes turned murderous. It lunged directly at the panda’s throat. Four other wolves attacked simultaneously from the flanks.

The panda dodged the leader but was forced to use its arms to block the side attacks.

Crack! Crack!

Lin Mo heard the sickening sound of bone breaking.

Then, a white shadow blurred past. Before Lin Mo could scream a warning, the white wolf’s jaws clamped down savagely on the panda’s back.

“Little bear!”

CRACK!

This sound was louder than the last. Blood spurted from the puncture wounds, flowing down the panda’s white fur. Its arms hung limp at its sides.

Slowly, the panda turned its head, opened its mouth, and bit down with everything it had on the white wolf’s neck.

The white wolf hadn’t expected such a desperate counter-attack. It clawed at the panda’s head, but the panda refused to let go. Two more grey wolves pounced, initiating a fresh assault.

The panda’s balance faltered. With a violent jerk, the white wolf managed to shake the panda off, throwing it to the ground.

The white wolf’s gaze grew colder. It signaled the remaining wolves to close the circle. It approached the fallen panda with extreme caution, wary of one final, suicidal strike.

It had to be careful—the pack had suffered heavy losses, and the leader itself was bleeding. No one expected this “little kid” to have such terrifying combat power.