Chapter 33: Big Cat Snow Leopard
The breathtaking sight of their golden fur silenced the entire livestream for a moment.
Then, the viewers erupted, exclaiming from the bottom of their hearts:
“These golden retrievers are gorgeous! They’re like glowing little angels!”
“Oh my god, I’ve never seen so many of them at once. Did the whole pack come out?”
“Is no one else wondering where they’re going?”
“…I have a bold theory.”
“Could they have been lured over by the smell of the grilled fish? Haha!”
“Too bad they showed up too late. The streamer was too cautious and bolted right after cooking it.”
“If they really came for the fish, they’re going to be disappointed.”
“It makes sense for her to be careful. In a dangerous Secret Realm, you really shouldn’t face a whole pack of wild beasts alone.”
“They look gentle, but you never know!”
“Stop worrying about that and look at them! The posture, the strength, the elegance! So majestic!”
“Golden retrievers really are the most beautiful dogs.”
“They’re like big, warm rays of sunshine.”
“Ah, I can’t take it! Shop Owner, please, I want a golden retriever! Bring one back for us, please!”
Su Wudeng obviously adored this beautiful, elegant pack as well. However, she firmly told her viewers, “Don’t even think about it. Their entire pack is thriving out here. I’m not going to ignore their wishes and take them away by force.”
How would that be any different from kidnapping?
The viewers had just been swept up in the excitement, but hearing the shop owner’s firm refusal, they immediately backpedaled.
“Then you have to take more pictures of them in the future! Just looking at them heals my soul!”
“Yes, they’re like a bunch of enthusiastic little suns! Could you leave some food for them?”
“Golden retrievers are the absolute cutest!” Rewarded the host with 10,000 credits. “Dogs come first!” Rewarded the host with 10,000 credits. “Dreaming of a Golden Retriever” Rewarded the host with 10,000 credits.
The wealthy fans in the livestream began throwing out massive tips one after another.
Su Wudeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Alright, alright, I will definitely take more photos of them for you. As for leaving food out, I’ll prepare some later, but I can’t guarantee they’ll accept it.”
Just then, someone in the chat had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
“Wait! Streamer, wouldn’t there be abandoned cubs, too? Just like the huskies!”
“Yes! You have to keep an eye out. If you find any abandoned ones, scoop them up immediately! I’ll adopt one! Please!”
“Oh my god, that’s actually possible. I want to adopt one too!”
It honestly sounded like a great idea. But after thinking about it for a moment, Su Wudeng realized the flaw in their logic.
“Actually, the chances of finding abandoned golden retriever cubs like we did with the huskies is extremely low,” she explained. “Canines, like wolves and dogs, are social animals. Unless they are facing incredibly dire circumstances or have specific species traits, they rarely abandon their pups.”
She paused before continuing, “Especially large dogs like golden retrievers. They are gentle, highly intelligent, and have strong teamwork skills. Their nurturing nature means they won’t easily give up on a single pup. So, don’t get your hopes up too high. However, if I do happen to stumble upon any abandoned puppies, I’ll absolutely bring them back.”
Hearing this, the viewers wailed in disappointment.
“Wuwuwu, so there’s no hope of taking a golden retriever home?”
“Shop Owner, I just want one even more now that you’ve said all that! Gentle, smart, loyal—that’s exactly my dream dog!”
Su Wudeng thought for a moment and added, “If we’re talking about abandonment, it’s actually felines that are more likely to leave their cubs behind. Felines, whether big or small, are solitary animals by nature. They are highly territorial and extremely vigilant. This means that if they have multiple cubs in a single litter and face fierce competition for resources, they are very likely to abandon the weakest of the bunch. So, probabilistically speaking, we are much more likely to encounter abandoned feline cubs.”
At this, the chat immediately perked up again.
“So that’s how it is! You learn something new every day!”
“Kittens are great too! Wait, what about big cats?”
This idea instantly gained traction, with comments like “+1” and “Big cats, please!” flooding the screen.
Su Wudeng chuckled helplessly. “It’s not like I can just summon one by asking! Though, I’d love a big cat, too.”
She thought back to the big felines from her past life. She had adored them all—Amur leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and black panthers. Big cats had thick, powerful paws and gorgeous, plush coats. Back then, they were highly protected endangered species; ordinary people couldn’t even dream of keeping one as a pet. But things were different now. If the opportunity arose, she really would love to raise one.
The viewers began discussing the topic enthusiastically, spamming pictures of various felines. Then, a picture of a snow leopard flashed across the screen. It was incredibly fluffy, looking both impossibly cute and undeniably powerful.
Amber suddenly barked excitedly. “Hey, I’ve seen this big cat before!”
Su Wudeng was stunned. “You’ve seen one?”
Amber nodded. He had an excellent memory. He thought for a moment before answering, “It was near the border where the forest meets the snowy mountain. I’ve seen one roaming there. The species should be a Frostblade Snow Leopard.”
The geography of this forest was unique: bordered by the sea on one side and a continuous mountain plateau on the other. The mountain peaks were capped with snow all year round. Such a harsh, freezing environment was indeed the perfect habitat for a creature like a snow leopard.
“If that’s the case,” Su Wudeng muttered to herself, “then maybe it really is possible!”
Seeing Su Wudeng and Amber communicating, the viewers were burning with curiosity.
“Shop Owner, what are you two whispering about?”
“No way, is it true?”
Su Wudeng looked at the camera and explained, “Amber says he’s actually seen a snow leopard around here.”
“!!! Really?!”
“Where is it? Streamer, please send out a scout drone to check it out!”
The chat went wild, and a fresh wave of tips and donations started pouring in.
Su Wudeng’s eyes lit up as she watched their skyrocketing enthusiasm. Even without their prompting, she was already eager to send out the drone to take a look.
“Okay, okay,” she said with a smile. “Since you all want to see it so badly, I’ll have Amber guide the way! Amber, do you remember which direction it was?”
Amber racked his brain for a moment before his bright, intelligent eyes suddenly lit up. “South!”
Su Wudeng gave him a slightly suspicious look. “Are you sure?”
At the foot of the snow-capped mountain.
A flash of white darted past like lightning. Behind it, splatters of blood painted a stark, trailing red line across the pristine snow. The creature was frantically evading pursuit, pausing only to anxiously sniff the frigid air.
It quickly ducked into a dark, snow-draped cave, gently dropping the small cub it had been carrying in its jaws onto the ground. The cub let out a faint whimper. In a hurried, clumsy motion, the adult leopard gently but firmly struck the cub with a paw, knocking it unconscious to keep it quiet.
It then darted back out, frantically sweeping the surrounding foliage and snow over the cave entrance to conceal it.
Suddenly, its ears twitched. It heard them coming.
Realizing time was up, the snow leopard gritted its teeth, turned, and bolted in the opposite direction.
After it left, the snow around the cave entrance began to rapidly accumulate. In the blink of an eye, the opening was completely buried under a thick layer of white, looking like nothing more than an ordinary snowdrift.
Following Amber’s directions, the scout drone flew steadily southward. Before long, mottled patches of snow began appearing on the ground through the camera feed.
“Wow, there’s snow over here?”
It was clear that the temperature in this region had plummeted.
As the drone pushed further, the snowy patches merged, eventually blanketing the entire forest floor. The lush, broad-leafed trees grew sparse, replaced by cold-resistant flora. Short, hardy shrubs and towering conifers dominated the landscape, their branches draped in crystalline icicles. A visible chill hung in the air. In the distance, the majestic peaks of the mountains were smothered in thick snow, gleaming a brilliant silver-white under the sun. Occasionally, sets of small animal tracks could be seen stamped into the fresh powder.
The viewers were captivated by the serene winter scenery.
“Wow, it’s totally snowed over! Are we heading straight for the foot of the mountain?”
“When did it snow? It looks like it’s been building up for a while.”
“I’d love to see it actively snowing. White flakes drifting down through a green forest would be absolutely breathtaking.”
Just then, a group of small critters skittered into the drone’s frame.
“Wow, are those squirrels?”
The little squirrels were busily darting in and out of a hollowed-out tree trunk, ferrying food. It looked like they were stocking up for a harsh winter. Their massive, fluffy tails instantly captured the hearts of the fluff-lovers in the chat.
“I want to pet one so badly!”
“Streamer, go catch one!”
“+1!”
Su Wudeng was utterly speechless. “Go? Go where? Don’t make things difficult for me. Let’s not disturb the squirrels. They’re working hard to hoard food for the cold weather.”
The viewers knew their demands were unreasonable, but what if the streamer actually agreed? A gambler’s hope never dies!
Bang!
A sharp, resounding gunshot suddenly echoed through the drone’s audio feed. The violent noise shattered the tranquil silence of the snowy forest, making every viewer’s heart skip a beat.
“Oh my god, what was that?”
“Was that a gunshot?!”
“What? Why would there be gunfire out there?”
Su Wudeng flinched. The audio picked up by the drone was unmistakable. A gunshot? Out here? What were they shooting at?
She shot up from her seat, her heart pounding against her ribs. Quickly grabbing the controls, Su Wudeng maneuvered the drone higher into the air and steered it toward the source of the sound. She had intentionally flown low to get better footage of the small animals, but maintaining that altitude now would make the drone an easy target.
“No, we need to gain altitude and stay hidden.”
As the drone ascended, its field of view expanded dramatically.
In the distance, a stark trail of bright crimson blood marred the pristine white snow. Suddenly, two figures riding strange, wolf-like beasts burst into the camera’s frame. They were bundled in heavy winter gear and moved at blinding speeds, tearing deep tracks through the snow.
Su Wudeng realized it instantly: they were hunting! Poachers! The beasts they were riding were clearly breeds specialized for hunting and sprinting, granting them terrifying speed.
The chat exploded in outrage.
“Damn it, those are poachers!”
“What the hell? People are out here hunting wild beasts?!”
“Look at all that blood! They’re definitely poaching something big!”
“What are they after?”
“Streamer, zoom in! There’s something in the upper right corner!”
Su Wudeng quickly adjusted the drone’s camera, zooming in tightly on the top right quadrant. The lens locked onto a fleeting white figure.
“Is that… a snow leopard?”
Its tail was long and incredibly fluffy, and its snow-white coat was beautifully dappled with elegant dark rosettes. Even though it was bleeding profusely, it still bounded through the snow with breathtaking agility.
Amber recognized it instantly. “It’s a Frostblade Snow Leopard! Those poachers are hunting it!”
On the screen, the poachers were closing the distance. The snow leopard’s situation was growing desperate. The viewers were so frantic they looked ready to reach through their screens and save the beast themselves.
“Streamer, you have to save it!”
“Don’t let them hurt the snow leopard!”
“This is disgusting. I can’t believe people are actually poaching out here.”
Su Wudeng was more horrified than anyone. She had assumed that in this prosperous era, where pet-keeping and beast-taming were the norm, poaching would be a thing of the past. But she was wrong. They were hunting a snow leopard right in front of her eyes!
Amber quickly analyzed the tactical situation. “It doesn’t look good. The snow leopard is completely out of stamina. It obviously fought with those hunters’ mounts before this. It has no strength left to fight back; it can only run.”
Filled with anger, Su Wudeng asked anxiously, “With its speed, can it escape?”
Amber’s expression turned grim as he shook his head. “It’s very unlikely. Did you see the guns in their hands? Those are specialized hunting rifles designed to pierce thick hides. From this distance, the snow leopard can’t use its elemental abilities to defend itself, but those rifles can easily hit their mark.”
This was the terrifying reality of human technology. In terms of raw physical ability, humans couldn’t hold a candle to these extraordinary beasts. But with advanced technology and weaponry, humans could easily slaughter them. These poachers had deliberately used their mounts to exhaust the snow leopard’s energy, waiting until it was utterly defenseless to harvest it from a safe distance.
Su Wudeng realized with a jolt that the situation was deteriorating by the second. Even as the snow leopard tried to passively generate snow to cover its tracks, there was simply too much blood. The vivid red trail acted as a glowing beacon for its pursuers, and the injured feline was visibly slowing down.
Su Wudeng gritted her teeth. “No, if this keeps up, they’ll run it down in under a minute!”
“We have to do something!” Amber barked anxiously. “But we’re too far away! We’d never get there in time. This is on the absolute edge of the forest. Are we… are we just going to have to watch it get captured?”
Panic clawed at Su Wudeng’s chest, but she forcefully suppressed it. Panicking wouldn’t save the snow leopard. She had to think clearly. There had to be a way!
Seeing the streamer’s solemn expression, the chat grew even more tense.
“Streamer, please! You have to save it!”
“You’re the only one who can do anything right now!”
“We can’t let those disgusting poachers win!”
“But what can she even do? She’s miles away!”
Su Wudeng ignored the scrolling comments, her eyes glued to the drone’s feed. The scout drone she had purchased did have an offensive shooting function, but it only fired a single, lethal shot before entering a cooldown. If she shot one poacher, the other would be instantly alerted. The snow leopard would still be in mortal danger.
“No, a direct attack won’t work!”
As she watched the two poachers pursuing their prey in a single-file line, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her.
“Who says poachers have to cooperate?” she muttered, her eyes narrowing. “There is a way!”
The drone was flying high enough and far enough away that it was practically invisible against the glaring sky. If she could just create the illusion that one poacher was attacking the other… she could make them kill each other!
Below, the lead poacher excitedly spotted a fresh, heavy pool of blood. He turned in his saddle and shouted back to his partner, “Haha, we’ve almost got it! The beast is on its last legs!”
As he twisted his body, the muzzle of his hunting rifle carelessly swept in a half-circle, momentarily pointing directly at the poacher trailing behind him.
Su Wudeng seized the split-second opportunity. She decisively locked onto the second poacher and fired the drone’s weapon.
Bang!
A muffled crack cut through the freezing air. The poacher in the back was hit, tumbling violently off his mount and into the snow.
The fallen poacher clutched his bleeding shoulder, staring up at his partner in shock. His shock instantly morphed into furious realization.
“You’re trying to keep the bounty for yourself?!” he screamed. “You greedy bastard! I’ll kill you!”
Roaring with rage, he leveled his rifle at his partner and fired wildly.
The lead poacher was hit multiple times, plummeting from his beast. He had been completely baffled by the initial gunshot, wondering where it came from, since he certainly hadn’t fired his weapon. But before he could process the confusion, searing pain tore through him. He felt warm liquid rapidly pooling beneath his heavy coat. Looking down, he saw his chest riddled with bullet holes.
It’s over!
Driven by the pure instinct of a dying man, he squeezed his own trigger, unleashing a spray of bullets back at his betrayer. At such close range with high-caliber hunting rifles, neither man stood a chance. They both collapsed into the bloodstained snow, dead before they could even cry out.
Their mounts, terrified by the deafening crossfire and the smell of death, bucked wildly before turning and fleeing into the treeline.
The deadly exchange happened so fast that the viewers were left utterly stunned.
“Is… is it over?”
“Holy shit, that first shot was from the streamer! She used the drone’s weapon!”
“Streamer, you are an absolute god!”
“Damn! That was incredible!”
“I was literally just typing that the drone could only kill one of them, but you actually manipulated them into killing each other! That is next-level!”
“You were playing 4D chess out there!”
“Too badass! Those poachers got exactly what they deserved!”
Su Wudeng stared at the screen, letting out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. “Thank god. We saved the snow leopard.”
Her hands were visibly trembling, and her heart was still hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Everything had happened so fast. If her timing had been off by even a second, the plan would have failed.
“Thank god it actually worked.”
Amber was bouncing off the walls with excitement, running joyful circles around her chair. “Master, you’re amazing! You took out both of those bad guys without even being there! Quick, let’s see how the snow leopard is doing!” He looked up at her with starry eyes. His master really was the best!
Su Wudeng quickly refocused, piloting the drone toward the snow leopard’s last known position. She spoke rapidly to the camera. “We need to check on the snow leopard now. It lost an incredible amount of blood. We have to see how badly it’s injured. If it’s a flesh wound, it might be okay, but if it’s severe…”
The chat was far from optimistic.
“With that much blood loss, it has to be critical.”
“Is it even going to survive?”
“Hold on, little snow leopard! You have to hold on!”
Within moments, the snow leopard re-entered the camera’s frame. It was moving at a sluggish crawl now, dragging its heavy, agonizingly wounded body forward purely on willpower. Su Wudeng’s heart ached at the sight. Its beautiful white fur was matted with crimson, and every trembling step stamped a bloody paw print into the snow.
“Stop! Don’t run anymore!” Su Wudeng shouted subconsciously at the monitor.
Realizing the beast couldn’t hear her, she rapidly lowered the drone’s altitude and flicked on its external speakers. “Snow leopard, stop! You’re safe! Don’t run, you’re too badly hurt!”
The sudden, booming voice terrified the highly strung feline. It snapped its head around, spotting the strange, hovering black box that had seemingly materialized out of nowhere. Startled, it tried to leap back defensively, but its failing legs gave out. It collapsed heavily into the snow, gasping in pain, but managed to keep its fierce, vigilant gaze locked onto the drone.
“The poachers chasing you are dead,” Su Wudeng said, keeping her tone as soothing as possible. “You don’t need to run anymore. You’re bleeding out.”
Dead? The snow leopard’s pupils shrank in shock. It flared its nostrils, sniffing the frigid wind. Sure enough, carrying over the breeze was the heavy, metallic stench of human blood.
The snow leopard stared at the strange, talking metal bird in utter bewilderment. Did you… save me?
The little square box hovering in the air emitted no elemental energy and carried no killing intent. Sensing that the immediate threat was truly gone, the exhausted snow leopard let out a ragged breath, its tense muscles finally relaxing.
Unfortunately, releasing that tension broke the tight seal its muscles had held over its wounds. Fresh blood immediately began to gush from its side.
The drone’s high-definition camera captured it all in grueling detail. Su Wudeng sucked in a sharp breath. The snow leopard had at least five distinct gunshot wounds. Its torso was a mess of matted, blood-soaked fur.
“No, this is too severe. It needs immediate surgery to extract the bullets!” Su Wudeng said frantically. “There’s no way it can recover from this on its own.”
The chat panicked as they saw the true extent of the damage.
“Its injuries are horrific! Those sick bastards shot it so many times!”
“What do we do? By the time you hike out there, it’ll be dead!”
“The smell of blood is going to attract other predators fast!”
“Can you get to it in time?!”
“Even if she gets there, she can’t do surgery in the middle of a freezing snowy forest!”
“If only she had an aircraft! She could fly over and medevac the snow leopard back to civilization!”
The snow leopard was rapidly losing consciousness. Feeling its life slipping away, it looked up at the hovering black drone with a desperate, pleading gaze.
Su Wudeng’s heart twisted. She knew better than anyone that the snow leopard was mere minutes from death. But the logistical nightmare remained: they were miles apart across rugged terrain.
Wait. She blinked, staring at the chat logs. An aircraft?
“An aircraft! I have one!” she blurted out. She had purchased a small hover-craft as part of that massive 90-million-credit shopping spree from the Peace Company! “But I haven’t even unboxed it yet, let alone learned how to fly it!”
The chat immediately exploded with encouragement.
“You actually have an aircraft?! That solves everything!”
“Don’t be scared, streamer! You can do this!”
“It’s super easy to fly those models! We’ll walk you through it!”
“Yes, we’ll guide you step-by-step. It’s practically foolproof!”
“It’s the only way to get the snow leopard back in time!”
“You can’t just let it die out there!”
They were right.
She quickly weighed her options. Although she had never piloted one, civilian aircraft came equipped with heavy auto-pilot assists. She just needed to steer. With thousands of people in chat ready to guide her, she could manage. Besides, she reasoned, I can fly close to the ground. Even if I crash, it won’t be fatal.
“Screw it!” She looked dead into the camera. “Guys, I’m putting my life in your hands today!”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got you!”
“Hurry, get moving!”
“We’re right here with you! Just ask if you get confused!”
Su Wudeng sprinted outside and quickly deployed the aircraft from her spatial storage. It was a compact, entry-level model featuring a cramped cockpit up front and a tiny cargo bay in the back that could just barely squeeze in one passenger. She had originally bought this specific model for basic commuting—and, frankly, because it was the only one she could comfortably afford at the time.
“At least it flies!” she muttered, pulling open the hatch and climbing into the cockpit.
It wasn’t until she sank into the pilot’s seat that the sheer insanity of what she was doing fully hit her. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs. Was she really about to fly an untested vehicle into the wilderness?
Amber hopped up into the copilot’s seat, pressing his warm body comfortingly against her side.
The viewers immediately shifted into instructor mode.
“Everyone else shut up! Keep the chat clear so she can see the instructions!”
“Step one, streamer: hit the large green button on the upper left of the dashboard!”
“Yes, that one!”
“Don’t panic when it rumbles. That’s the auto-ignition. It’ll lift off by itself.”
Su Wudeng took a deep, steadying breath and slammed her palm onto the green button.
The aircraft hummed to life with a deep mechanical thrum and smoothly lifted off the ground. Looking out the window, Su Wudeng watched her wooden cabin shrink beneath her. The roar of the thrusters vibrated through her seat, echoing in her ears.
“Great job! Now, input the destination coordinates into the center console.”
“Yep, exactly like that.”
“Don’t forget to activate the kinetic shielding! Hitting a bird at high speeds is no joke!”
Su Wudeng methodically flipped switches and tapped screens, following the chat’s step-by-step guidance. Surprisingly, the interface was highly intuitive; it wasn’t nearly as difficult as she had feared. The aircraft flew with incredible stability. The Peace Company really did make reliable products. It might have been a budget model, but it was getting the job done.
As she grew accustomed to the controls, a surge of adrenaline pushed her to slam the throttle all the way to maximum!
Time waited for no one. The snow leopard didn’t have much time left. Every second counted.
The ship tore through the sky, the forest canopy blurring into a streak of green and white beneath them. For the viewers in the livestream, who had never flown in the cockpit of an aircraft before, the first-person view of the breakneck speeds was an exhilarating rush.
“Holy crap, this is thrilling!”
“Look at that speed! Only a madman flies this fast! Are you sure this is your first time?!”
“Ah, I can’t take it! I feel like I’m the one flying!”
Glancing at the rolling text, Su Wudeng gave a breathless, strained laugh. “It really is my first time! I know it’s a bit reckless, but if anyone is getting motion sickness from the camera feed, feel free to minimize the stream for a bit. I’ll let you know when we land.”
The viewers, however, were absolutely glued to their screens. Leave now, right at the climax of the rescue? Not a chance!
Just then, a massive, bold red comment pinned itself to the top of the chat.
“WAIT, IMPORTANT QUESTION!!!”
“Streamer, do you even have medical supplies on board?!”
Su Wudeng’s heart skipped a beat. The aircraft was fresh out of its spatial storage. It was completely empty!
But a quick glance at her system interface put her at ease. Her livestream’s Hope Points were skyrocketing. She didn’t have medicine in the real world, but she had more than enough points to buy it from the System Shop!
Accessing her system interface, she frantically purchased every emergency trauma supply the shop recommended, directly materializing the items into the rear cargo bay.
To quell the chat’s rising panic, Su Wudeng switched the camera feed to the rear cabin. Neatly stacked rows of trauma kits, hemostatic agents, and surgical tools sat on the cargo floor.
“I have supplies!” she yelled over the hum of the engine. “Is there a licensed doctor in the chat? Can someone look at this setup and tell me if I’m missing anything?!”
A chaotic blur of comments flashed across the screen until a verified user chimed in.
“Wow, Shop Owner, you came incredibly well-prepared!”
“I’m an ER trauma surgeon. Looking at your feed, you have everything we need.”
“Broad-spectrum antibiotics, heavy-duty hemostatic agents, surgical extraction kits, sterile bandages… you have the works.”
“Just keep your comms open and follow my exact instructions when you land. We are going to save this snow leopard together!”
