Eaten Ch.71.2

Chapter 71.2: Cub

X brought the bear cub back with it.

And just like that, everyone was thrown into a frenzy.

“Dou Lu and Lin Mengzhi are its mother-killing enemies. Now it endures humiliation and bides its time, waiting for the day it can personally take revenge and avenge its mother!”

Xue Qi was being chased all over the room by the little bear, to the point the wheelchair wheels were spinning so fast they left afterimages. “Damn it—why did it open its eyes already?”

Panting hard, Xue Qi had no choice but to bind the cub to a pillar with spider silk.

Ruan Silian came with hot water. “Let me wipe the amniotic fluid off its body.”

Ying Liuquan put on his glasses, feeling the cub’s already well-developed limbs and even the teeth that had started to grow. “Don’t feed it anything. We’ll release it directly later.”

Xue Shen nodded in agreement.

But Xue Qi looked puzzled. “Do you really think it’ll take revenge?”

Shen She said, “It’s not about revenge. Bears are wild animals, not pets. And this is the cub of a mutated mother bear. It doesn’t even look like a normal bear. If we raise it, it’ll grow bigger and only become trouble for us—and that won’t benefit it either. Not feeding it is so it won’t lose its instinct to hunt.”

“But it’s still a baby, it hasn’t even had a sip of milk—”

He had barely finished speaking when the cub opened its jaws at him and roared twice. Those two rows of teeth looked like they could bite any of their heads open like bursting fruit.

Shen She smacked the back of Xue Qi’s head. “You still think it needs milk now?”

“……”

The little bear hated Xue Qi, because Xue Qi was the one who tied it up.

It clearly liked Ruan Silian and Ying Liuquan—one wiped its fur clean, the other stroked it comfortably.

After cleaning the grime off its body, Ruan Silian leaned on the wall, exhausted. She told Lin Mengzhi to dry the cub’s fur so it wouldn’t catch a cold, since it had just been born.

“Mmm-mm, okay,” Lin Mengzhi mumbled through a mouthful of noodles as he stuck out a hand to blow warm air and dry the little bear’s fur.

The sudden burst of flames scared the little bear so badly it squeaked and wailed nonstop.

Lin Mengzhi swallowed his noodles, feeling a touch heavy-hearted. Everyone knew pregnant or nursing mother bears were famously irritable. Yes, the mother bear had attacked first—but she was a pregnant lady, after all.

So once he finished drying the cub’s fur, Lin Mengzhi immediately told Xue Qi to let it go.

The little bear sprang into its revenge arc on the spot.

But with Xue Qi hiding behind Shen She and Xue Shen, it couldn’t get close to him, so it could only lock onto Lin Mengzhi instead.

Lin Mengzhi, still holding his bowl of noodles, ran for his life. He scrambled up the wooden ladder leaning against the wall, climbing all the way to the top. Looking down, he called,

“Say, how come A’Heng didn’t eat you? You’re exactly the type he loves—lots of spring in your step when you run.”

The little bear couldn’t understand the words, but it stood there thinking hard.

After about half a minute of pondering, it began climbing the ladder—tiny paws gripping the rungs, its shaky back legs wobbling as it went up.

Lin Mengzhi: “Well, I’ll be damned—you can climb a ladder. Incredible, incredible. Your mom really nailed the prenatal education.”

He hopped down from the ladder. The little bear immediately leapt down after him—but because it couldn’t land properly, it plopped onto its butt. It recovered fast, scrambling up with a howl, resuming the chase.

After several rounds of pursuit, the bear was noticeably faster and more agile; its growth rate and learning ability were frankly terrifying.

Everyone else stepped aside to watch the show; whenever the cub’s four stubby legs scrambled past, someone would even reach out to give it a friendly pat.

Lin Mengzhi led it around the house for more than ten laps. He wasn’t anywhere near tired yet, but the bear finally collapsed beside the fire pit, panting heavily. Its fluffy belly rose and fell dramatically, though its amber eyes still darted around restlessly.

At that point, even if Lin Mengzhi leaned against it and sat down, the cub didn’t react.

Ruan Silian patted the little bear’s head.

“Right… where’s Wu Heng?”

The little bear was startled by the sudden flames and squeaked and howled in fright. Lin Mengzhi swallowed his noodles; deep down, he felt a little suffocated. Everyone knew that pregnant and nursing mother bears were notoriously irritable and aggressive. Although the mother bear had attacked first, she had been a pregnant animal.

So as soon as he finished drying the cub’s fur, Lin Mengzhi told Xue Qi to let it go.

The moment it was freed, the little bear immediately began its path of vengeance.

But Xue Qi hid behind Shen She and Xue Shen. Unable to get close to him, the cub could only fix its attention on Lin Mengzhi and chase him instead.

Lin Mengzhi held his bowl of noodles while being chased all over the place. He scrambled up to the top of a wooden ladder leaning against the wall. Looking down from above, he said, “Come to think of it, how come A-Heng didn’t eat you? He likes the ones like you who run with the most energy.”

The little bear didn’t understand, but it stood there thinking hard.

After half a minute of stillness, it began to climb the ladder, wobbling as its unsteady hind legs found their footing.

Lin Mengzhi: “Well, would you look at that, you know how to climb ladders? Amazing, amazing—your mom must’ve done a great job with prenatal education.”

Lin Mengzhi jumped down from the ladder. The little bear immediately followed, but it didn’t land well and fell right on its butt. It bounced up quickly and resumed chasing him with renewed determination.

After several rounds of chase, the bear’s speed had clearly increased, and its movements had grown much more agile. Its growth rate and comprehension were astonishing.

Everyone else stepped aside to watch the fun. When the four-legged fluffball dashed past, they even reached out for a quick pat as it went by.

Lin Mengzhi ran it around the house more than a dozen times. He wasn’t even tired yet, but the little bear finally collapsed beside the fire pit, panting heavily. Its fluffy belly rose and fell rapidly, though its brown-yellow eyes were still darting around energetically.

At that point, even when Lin Mengzhi sat down next to it, the cub no longer reacted.

Ruan Silian stroked its head. “By the way, where’s Wu Heng?”

—

Ying Liuquan opened the door and glanced outside. Right away, he saw Wu Heng sitting on the courtyard wall not far away.

The boy sat with his back to them, facing the vast, endless expanse of snowy forest. Beneath him, vines climbed all over the wall, drawing energy from the earth.

“What’s he doing sitting up there?” Lin Mengzhi also peeked out through the door crack and saw him. He shouted, “A’Heng, get inside! It’s cold out there!!”

Shen Ping’an leaned against a corner of the wall. “He’s waiting for the class monitor, I guess.”

Lin Mengzhi suddenly understood. “We almost forgot about Xie Chongyi!”

Xue Shen: “You were the one who forgot.”

Wu Heng didn’t respond. He sat on top of the courtyard wall, looking in the direction Xie Chongyi had left that morning.

Xie Chongyi had been grouped with Ying Liuquan, yet Ying Liuquan had returned long ago.

Xie Chongyi had said he would bring food back for him.

If not for that promise, Wu Heng wouldn’t have let the little bear live.

“What’s he waiting for Xie Chongyi for…” Lin Mengzhi muttered as he picked up the cub. “Shouldn’t Teacher Ying be the one worrying? Teacher Ying is your instructor, after all.”

Ying Liuquan, who had never acted like a teacher from beginning to end, took off his glasses and pressed his legs together, nervously wiping the lenses with the corner of his clothes.

More firewood had been added to the fire pit several times. People started yawning one after another.

—

Dou Lu woke up, ate several meat-filled fried pancakes and a few big bowls of wild vegetable and meat soup. When she finished eating, the cub happened to return with two chunks of wolf meat dug up from the snow, filling its belly. The two—woman and bear—faced each other.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

Ruan Silian explained to her that this was the newborn cub Wu Heng had dug out of the mother bear’s belly.

At that moment, the little bear was lying on the ground, playing with her shoelaces with its front paws.

Dou Lu’s expression changed. She covered her mouth, rushed outside, and vomited up everything she had just eaten. Everyone was startled by her reaction.

Before anyone could react, the girl—having just finished vomiting—ran back into the house. Thump-thump-thump, she bolted upstairs with a huge commotion, and bang, she slammed the door shut.

The carefree, lazy look on Lin Mengzhi’s face faded quite a bit. Since he spent every day hanging around Dou Lu, he more or less understood why she reacted so strongly.

“She probably can’t accept that the one she killed was a pregnant bear.”

At this moment, Ying Liuquan wanted to act like a proper teacher and launch into some “educational lecture.” He pinched the edge of his sleeve between his fingers and said quietly, “We need to learn to accept this world. The old civilization is gone, the new one awaits exploration. I—”

“Teacher Ying,” Ruan Silian tilted her head to interrupt him, looking at him with firelight flickering in her eyes, “please don’t speak right now, alright?”

Ying Liuquan stiffened, his whole face turning red. Flustered, he turned toward Shen Ping’an—who seemed about as honest and mild-tempered as he was—seeking help. But Shen Ping’an didn’t look at him at all. Instead, it was one of the students he feared most, Xue Shen, staring right at him.

“Teacher Ying, thanks to you, we kinda want to die again.”

“I’ll go check on her. Everyone, get some rest. Good night.” Ruan Silian said, and as she left, she didn’t forget to give the little bear’s outstretched paw a gentle squeeze.

“I’m turning in, too.” Shen Ping’an stood up.

“Bro, we’re going to sleep as well,” Xue Qi said as he reached out to take Shen She’s hand.

Soon, everyone was gone—except Lin Mengzhi, who was still there with the bear. Seeing him, Xue Shen asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m waiting for A’Heng.” Lin Mengzhi pointed toward the courtyard outside.

“Then keep waiting. The person he’s waiting for isn’t you.” Xue Shen shrugged and left the living room.

There was a fur rug on the floor. Though Lin Mengzhi said he was going to wait, once everyone else had left, he didn’t even last three minutes before collapsing onto the rug—and falling asleep next to the little bear.

—

Wu Heng had been listening to the conversation inside the house until the voices faded completely, and the world around him fell into absolute silence.

He checked the time—it should be around midnight now.

At this village beneath his feet, they had stayed for nearly a month.

He hadn’t gone hungry or been bullied, but he also hadn’t gotten to eat Xie Chongyi’s meat; he had only once tasted Xie Chongyi’s lips.

Unable to eat, unable to defeat him.

Wu Heng propped himself up with his hands, tilted his head to the sky, and thought about a whole mess of things, only to find none of them made sense.

Why hadn’t Xie Chongyi returned yet?

The bright moon hung overhead, frost-covered trees gleaming like white jade. The sky and earth met in perfect clarity; there was no blemish in sight.

A black dot appeared at the foot of the mountain.

Wu Heng saw it and immediately leapt down from the wall. He stood still, staring in that direction.

Xie Chongyi was carrying a deer by its head. The deer was still alive but had been knocked unconscious. Its lower body dragged along the ground, the coat sleek and shiny, the limbs strong, every part flawless.

There was no wind, no snow. The few patches of frost clinging to Xie Chongyi’s eyelashes and face had been carried out from the forest. His handsome, cold face bore a faint layer of weariness.

Wu Heng saw him at once—and Xie Chongyi saw Wu Heng in return.

As the distance between them closed, a surge of inexplicable frustration rose in Wu Heng’s chest. He stepped forward twice, and without hesitation, waved his hand; green waves of energy surged directly toward Xie Chongyi.

Xie Chongyi narrowed his eyes, dropped the stag, and while blocking the attack, he twisted several vines together into a bundle.

Wu Heng had only flung his hand out in irritation; he hadn’t even used a third of his strength.

Yet Xie Chongyi, grasping the vines in front of him, gave a tug, catching Wu Heng completely off guard and pulling him directly in front of Xie Chongyi.

Wu Heng was as swift as a swimming snake. The moment he regained his senses, he broke free from Xie Chongyi’s grip and threw a punch toward Xie Chongyi’s stomach.

Xie Chongyi was annoyed too. He gripped Wu Heng’s wrist, twisted it to the side, and restrained him, leaving no chance for another strike.

He had spent the whole day climbing several mountains to find a beautiful piece of food. And the first thing Wu Heng did wasn’t ask if he was cold or hungry—but punched him?

No matter how annoyed he was, Xie Chongyi wouldn’t hit back. If he did, that “friendship” would be over.

Especially since it was obvious Wu Heng had lost control of his emotions.

Noticing Wu Heng’s emotional loss of control, a subtle yet intense sense of discomfort stirred in Xie Chongyi’s heart.

But he had no mind to figure out how to erase that unfamiliar discomfort. Right now, he just wanted to hold Wu Heng.

Vines erupted wildly around them, whipping snow into the air. The mud beneath the snow was gouged with huge pits, and the courtyard walls behind them were riddled with large holes—but not a single vine struck Xie Chongyi.

Wu Heng was just throwing a tantrum.

Xie Chongyi patiently waited for Wu Heng to calm down on his own.

When Wu Heng finally stopped, he bent over, picked up the stag, and turned to leave. His slender, delicate back radiated a resolute refusal to look back.

The boy dragged the deer and sat down across from Lin Mengzhi.

Lin Mengzhi and Little Bear had been awakened by the commotion outside. Little Bear, seeing the food, twitched its nose and was about to crawl over. Lin Mengzhi, noticing the young one’s eager expression, quickly pressed down on Little Bear, covering its mouth, nose, and eyes. “Children should sleep early and wake early.”

If this clumsy little bear dared to snatch Wu Heng’s food at a time like this, it would be like trying to take a tiger’s prey. Lin Mengzhi had no doubt that Wu Heng would shred the cub to pieces.

“Aren’t you waiting for Xie Chongyi?”

No sooner had Lin Mengzhi asked than Xie Chongyi walked in from outside. He closed the door, took his time removing his gloves and hat, then slipped off his coat before sitting by the fire.

“Why aren’t you resting yet?” Xie Chongyi asked Lin Mengzhi with a warm smile.

Lin Mengzhi felt a tingle on his scalp from that smile. He raised a hand, holding it in front of the lower half of Xie Chongyi’s face. Without the upturned corners of his mouth, the boy’s eyes looked like two sharp black blades—completely devoid of humor, radiating nothing but a chilling intensity.

What on earth happened? Why do both of them look like they lost their parents?

But Lin Mengzhi couldn’t just stand up and run since he was still managing the bear. He grit his teeth and replied, “I was already asleep, but the noise you made outside just now was too loud, so…”

Xie Chongyi, uncharacteristically impatient, admitted frankly, “Mm, that was my fault.”

“…”

“Crunch… crack…”

Wu Heng was already eating nearby, bloodied but focused. He held a deer leg, expressionless, mood dark, tearing off large chunks of meat with each bite.

Xie Chongyi shifted his gaze from Lin Mengzhi and propped his chin on his hand, watching Wu Heng intently.

Only then did Lin Mengzhi feel the oppressive aura ease a little.

He couldn’t help but admire Wu Heng.

To be able to eat under Xie Chongyi’s scrutiny like that… impressive.

Trying to lighten the mood, Lin Mengzhi said, “Class Monitor, A’Heng waited for you all night. Why did you come back so late?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Xie Chongyi’s breath caught. He looked at Lin Mengzhi again, “Waited for me… all night?”

For some reason, Lin Mengzhi felt that Xie Chongyi seemed a little friendlier now than he had just moments ago.

He hurriedly nodded, forgetting that he and Wu Heng were the closest in the world, and quickly said, “When I got back, he was already in the courtyard. By now, he’s been waiting for you at least five or six hours.”

Lin Mengzhi had thought this would spark a lively conversation between him and Xie Chongyi, but to his surprise, Xie Chongyi only gave a faint, almost-smiling, “Is that so?” and didn’t engage further.

Wu Heng lowered his gaze. Blood flowed between his fingers down the back of his hand, pooling around his protruding wrist bones, finally dripping to the ground. A large puddle of blood had already formed beneath him.

Chewing through the animal bones seemed effortless for him. Crunch, crunch. When gnawing the meat, his saliva mixed with the fresh flesh in irregular, soft gurgles—not rushed, not slow, but steady. His eyes were pure and clear, like those of a newborn—because only the food mattered; nothing else could enter his vision.

He even tore off the ears from the deer’s head and shoved them into his mouth, crack, crunch.

Lin Mengzhi really couldn’t bear to watch anymore—and he needed to pee.

So he dragged the drooling Little Bear upstairs.

After Lin Mengzhi left, Xie Chongyi leaned over and tugged at Wu Heng’s elbow.

Wu Heng kept his eyes down, showing no reaction, completely focused on chewing.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you go hungry, or made you wait so long,” Xie Chongyi said, fully aware of how different Wu Heng was from others—especially in his sensitivity to hunger.

Everyone at the main camp was still alive, uninjured, which was already a testament to Wu Heng’s extraordinary self-restraint.

Wu Heng’s cheeks were puffed, one half still sticking out of his mouth. He shook his head.

Xie Chongyi picked up a wooden stick and poked Wu Heng’s rounded cheek. “But I did go get food for you. You meet me and hit me—shouldn’t you apologize too?”

Wu Heng mumbled a vague “Sorry.”

Xie Chongyi laughed. “You admit it so quickly—are you just humoring me?”

Wu Heng swallowed all the food in his mouth, looked Xie Chongyi straight in the eyes. His gaze was dark and bright, his voice hoarse yet soft: “You didn’t come back… I was worried.”

He truly was worried—worried that Xie Chongyi might be eaten by something even stronger than himself if he wasn’t there.

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